FXUS64 KLCH 212306 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 606 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026 ...New AVIATION... .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... (00Z TAFS) Issued at 604 PM CDT Sat Mar 21 2026 VFR conditions along with southern flow will continue for the rest of the day. Overnight the abundant moisture in the low levels of the atmosphere will lead to broken cloud decks and fog. Along the I-10 corridor fog may be dense with a tempo for 1/4SM VIS at LCH and BPT. After sunrise conditions will quickly improve with VFR conditions and gusty south winds. && .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. && $$ SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM....07 AVIATION...14