textproduct: Lake Charles

KEY MESSAGES

- A persistent southerly flow will bring in a warm Gulf air mass that will allow for above seasonal temperatures this week with some afternoon highs nearing daily records.

- Upper level ridging and dry air aloft will help keep any chance of rain out of the forecast into next week.

DISCUSSION

Issued at 154 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026

For the remainder of the weekend into next week the weather pattern will generally show an upper level ridge over the southwest US with a trough along the east coast. This will bring a rather benign west- northwest flow aloft over the forecast area.

At the surface, high pressure will ridge across the northern Gulf from the southeast US for the remainder of the weekend into early next week that will bring a low level southerly flow. Some patchy fog may occur during the overnight to shortly after sunrise as clear skies, light winds, and adequate low level moisture will bring a chance for radiational fog, mainly in rural areas.

A backdoor cold front will try to move down from the northeast into the forecast area on Tuesday, however it looks to run out of steam as it reaches the region, and is not expected to have any affect before it dissipates on Wednesday.

Therefore, the forecast period will be noted by unseasonably warm early spring temperatures with readings some 10 to 15 degrees above daily climo norms with some afternoon highs nearing daily records as the week progresses.

Also, with mainly ridging and dry air aloft, no significant rain fall is expected during the period, that will likely allow drought conditions to increase again.

07/Rua

AVIATION

(18Z TAFS) Issued at 1223 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026

Southerly flow will persist during the period bringing low level moisture below a cap in the atmosphere. This will allow for low clouds and patchy fog to form at night with the fog and low clouds gradually lifting during the morning hours. Conditions are expected to be mainly MVFR at all terminals between 06z and 15z, however some lower visibility with some stronger fog probs at KLCH may bring some IFR/LIFR conditions between 22/09-13z.

07/Rua

MARINE

Issued at 154 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026

Surface high will be ridging across the northern Gulf from around Florida and off the southeast US coast. Therefore, a light to modest southerly flow with low seas will continue for the remainder of the weekend into early next week. No chance for showers are in the forecast as an upper level high will also be over the region.

FIRE WEATHER

Issued at 154 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026

Surface high pressure off to the east will keep a southerly flow in place for the remainder of the weekend into early next week. This will allow for modest Gulf moisture over the area with with minimum afternoon relative humidity values between 40 and 50 percent. Some patchy fog will be possible late at night and during the early morning especially for locations that may have residual smoke from earlier burnings. No chance for significant rain as an upper level ridge influences the weather.

PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS

AEX 59 85 58 84 / 0 0 0 0 LCH 63 80 62 82 / 0 0 0 0 LFT 62 81 61 83 / 0 0 0 0 BPT 61 82 61 83 / 0 0 0 0

LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

LA...None. TX...None. GM...None.