625
FXUS64 KLCH 182323
AFDLCH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
623 PM CDT WED MAR 18 2026
..NEW AVIATION
KEY MESSAGES
- A WARMING TREND WILL BEGIN TODAY AND STRETCH THROUGH THE WEEKEND
- HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID 80S TO NEAR 90 ACROSS INTERIOR
AREAS THIS WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK
- DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE, WITH NO RAIN EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER
OF THE FORECAST PERIOD
SHORT TERM
(TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 155 PM CDT WED MAR 18 2026
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE EXTENDS FROM NEW ENGLAND TO THE NE GULF COAST
THIS AFTERNOON, PROVIDING SOUTHERLY WINDS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA.
ALOFT, A LARGE RIDGE IS BUILDING ACROSS THE WESTERN CONUS, WHILE A
WEAKENING TROUGH IS OVER THE EASTERN CONUS, RESULTING IN A NWRLY
FLOW OVERHEAD. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A DRY AND SEASONAL AFTERNOON,
WITH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO TOP OUT AROUND 70 DEGREES.
UPPER RIDGING WILL CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY OVER THE WESTERN CONUS
THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK, KEEPING A MAINLY NW TO N FLOW OVERHEAD
ALOFT. AT THE SURFACE, HIGH PRESSURE WILL LINGER OVER THE EASTERN
SEABOARD THROUGH FRIDAY, KEEPING A MAINLY SW SURFACE FLOW IN PLACE.
THIS WILL RESULT IN FURTHER DRY CONDITIONS, ALONG WITH A RAPID
WARMING TREND AS WE HEAD TOWARDS THE WEEKEND. HIGHS WILL REACH INTO
THE MID 70S TO NEAR 80 TOMORROW AND INTO THE UPPER 70S TO LOW 80S ON
FRIDAY.
17
LONG TERM
(SATURDAY THROUGH NEXT TUESDAY)
ISSUED AT 155 PM CDT WED MAR 18 2026
MOVING INTO THE WEEKEND, WESTERN CONUS UPPER RIDGING BEGINS TO
SHIFT EASTWARD AND FLATTEN OUT FROM SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY WHILE
SWRLY FLOW CONTINUES AT THE SURFACE. THIS WILL BRING ABOUT FURTHER
WARMING, WITH HIGHS REACHING INTO THE MID/UPPER 80S ACROSS INTERIOR
PORTIONS OF THE FORECAST AREA AND LOW/MID 80S ELSEWHERE. MOISTURE
RETURN WILL BE ONGOING BUT RATHER SLOW THANKS TO SW FLOW AT THE
SURFACE AND RIDGING BUILDING IN ALOFT, WITH PWATS REMAINING NEAR
AVERAGE. THEREFORE, NO RAINFALL IS EXPECTED. MOVING INTO THE WORK
WEEK, UPPER RIDGING CONTINUES TO BUILD EASTWARD, WHILE AT THE
SURFACE A WEAK BOUNDARY SLIDES INTO THE REGION LATE MONDAY. WHILE
THIS FRONT WON'T REALLY BE NOTICEABLE IT WILL HOLD THE ONGOING
WARMING TREND IN CHECK, WITH HIGHS CONTINUING TO REACH INTO THE LOW
TO MID 80S.
AVIATION
(00Z TAFS)
ISSUED AT 621 PM CDT WED MAR 18 2026
VFR CONDITIONS ONGOING AND EXPECTED TO PREVAIL WITH SOUTHERLY
WINDS RELAXING TONIGHT BEFORE PICKING UP SLIGHTLY TOMORROW.
MARINE
ISSUED AT 155 PM CDT WED MAR 18 2026
LIGHT SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS AND LOW SEAS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH
THE END OF THE WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE
LINGERS TO OUR EAST. RIDGING BUILDING IN ALOFT WILL KEEP DRY
CONDITIONS IN PLACE, WITH NO PRECIPITATION EXPECTED THROUGH THE
FORECAST PERIOD.
FIRE WEATHER
ISSUED AT 155 PM CDT WED MAR 18 2026
DRY CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO SLOWLY MODERATE TODAY THROUGH THE LATER
HALF OF THE WEEK AS LIGHT S TO SW FLOW PREVAILS. MINRH VALUES WILL
GENERALLY RANGE FROM THE MID 30S TO MID 40S FOR INLAND LOCATIONS,
AND FROM THE UPPER 40S TO MID 50S FOR AREAS ALONG/SOUTH OF I-10.
WHILE MOISTURE SLOWLY RETURNS THROUGH THE PERIOD, NO RAINFALL IS
EXPECTED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
AEX 45 78 53 83 / 0 0 0 0
LCH 52 75 57 78 / 0 0 0 0
LFT 48 77 56 79 / 0 0 0 0
BPT 52 77 57 81 / 0 0 0 0
LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
LA...NONE.
TX...NONE.
GM...NONE.
SHORT TERM...17
LONG TERM....17
AVIATION...87
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