609
FXUS64 KLCH 172311
AFDLCH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
611 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
..NEW AVIATION
KEY MESSAGES
- A WARMING TREND WILL BEGIN TOMORROW THROUGH THE END OF THE
FORECAST PERIOD, WITH TEMPERATURES APPROACHING 90 DEGREES BY
THIS WEEKEND
- DRY CONDITIONS CONTINUE, WITH NO RAIN EXPECTED FOR THE
REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST PERIOD
SHORT TERM
(TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 200 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
A VERY DRY AIRMASS HAS SETTLED OVER THE GULF COAST OVER THE LAST 24
HOURS OR SO, WITH DEWPOINTS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA CURRENTLY
RANGING FROM ~6-16 DEGREES. SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE
OVERHEAD, DRAPED FROM THE MIDWEST TO THE GULF COAST, PROVIDING
CLEAR SKIES AND COOL TEMPS IN THE 50S. HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLIDE
EASTWARD TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW, ALLOW SURFACE WINDS TO GRADUALLY
BECOME SE TO S. THEREFORE, ONE MORE CHILLY NIGHT IS ON TAP TONIGHT
BEFORE WE START TO MODERATE TOMORROW.
WHILE ONSHORE FLOW AT THE SURFACE ALLOWS TEMPERATURES TO WARM TO
NEAR SEASONAL NORMS TOMORROW, NW FLOW ALOFT WILL CONTINUE TO PREVAIL
AS A SIGNIFICANT UPPER RIDGE BEGINS TO BUILD ACROSS THE WESTERN
CONUS. THEREFORE, DRY AIR ALOFT WILL KEEP ANY SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE
AT BAY FOR THE TIME BEING, WITH PWATS FORECAST TO REMAIN NEAR TO
BELOW AVERAGE THROUGH THE END OF THE SHORT TERM. THURSDAY BRINGS
FURTHER WARMING, WITH HIGHS REACHING INTO THE MID TO UPPER 70S,
WHILE OVERNIGHT LOWS FALL INTO THE MID TO UPPER 50S.
LONG TERM
(FRIDAY THROUGH NEXT MONDAY)
ISSUED AT 200 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND, SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO MEANDER
ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD TO THE NE GULF COAST, KEEPING A MAINLY
SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW IN PLACE OVERHEAD. ALOFT, RIDGING CONTINUES TO
AMPLIFY OVER THE WESTERN CONUS THROUGH FRIDAY, EVENTUALLY SHIFTING
EASTWARD AND FLATTENING OUT THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THIS SET UP WILL
PROVIDE FURTHER DRY CONDITIONS THROUGH THE LONG TERM, WITH NO
RAINFALL EXPECTED WITHIN THE FORECAST PERIOD. IN ADDITION, A MORE
SIGNIFICANT WARMING TREND ARRIVES BY THE WEEKEND, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR
INLAND LOCATIONS, WITH HIGHS REACHING INTO THE UPPER 80S FOR
INTERIOR SE TX AND CENLA BOTH SAT AND SUN. ELSEWHERE, LOW TO MID 80S
FOR HIGHS AND MAINLY LOW 60S FOR LOWS CAN BE EXPECTED THROUGH THE
WEEKEND. EARLY NEXT WEEK, A WEAK FRONT LOOKS TO MOVE THROUGH THE
REGION, WHICH WILL DO LITTLE TO COOL US DOWN BUT SHOULD AT LEAST
KEEP TEMPS OUT OF THE UPPER 80S FOR THE EARLY WORK WEEK.
AVIATION
(00Z TAFS)
ISSUED AT 610 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
VFR WITH LIGHT WINDS THROUGH THE PERIOD.
MARINE
ISSUED AT 200 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVERHEAD WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT EAST THIS
EVENING INTO TONIGHT, ALLOWING LIGHT ONSHORE FLOW TO SHIFT TO THE
SE/S. LIGHT ONSHORE FLOW CONTINUES THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK,
BECOMING MORE SW TO WSW BY THE WEEKEND.
FIRE WEATHER
ISSUED AT 200 PM CDT TUE MAR 17 2026
VERY DRY CONDITIONS TODAY WILL BEGIN TO SLOWLY MODERATE TOMORROW
THROUGH THE LATER HALF OF THE WEEK AS LIGHT SOUTHERLY FLOW
BECOMES REESTABLISHED. MINRH VALUES WILL GENERALLY RANGE FROM THE
MID 30S TO LOW 40S FOR INLAND LOCATIONS, AND FROM THE MID 40S TO
LOW 50S FOR AREAS ALONG/SOUTH OF I-10 TOMORROW INTO THE WEEKEND.
WHILE MOISTURE SLOWLY RETURNS THROUGH THE PERIOD, NO RAINFALL IS
EXPECTED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
AEX 35 71 46 79 / 0 0 0 0
LCH 43 69 52 76 / 0 0 0 0
LFT 40 69 49 77 / 0 0 0 0
BPT 45 72 53 79 / 0 0 0 0
LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
LA...NONE.
TX...NONE.
GM...NONE.
SHORT TERM...17
LONG TERM....17
AVIATION...05
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