FXUS64 KLCH 230540
AFDLCH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1240 AM CDT Sun Aug 23 2026

...New DISCUSSION, AVIATION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A Heat Advisory is in effect again today from 11 AM until 8 PM.
  Afternoon highs will again climb to near 100 degrees with 
  maximum apparent temperatures ranging from 109 to 115. 

- Temperatures will remain above normal through Tuesday before 
  returning nearer to normal through the second half of the week. 

- A few afternoon thunderstorms are expected each day, but the
  majority of the region will remain dry through Wednesday.
  Precipitation chances will increase Thursday into next weekend. 
 

&&

.DISCUSSION...
(Today through Saturday)
Issued at 1212 AM CDT Sun Aug 23 2026

After breaking daily high temperature records Saturday afternoon 
at both the Lake Charles and Beaumont airports, dewpoints in the 
upper 70s to 80 are keeping apparent temperatures even at midnight
in the mid 90s to near 100. It does make one wonder how the pre 
electrical world managed to subsist in the gulf south in August.

Little change in the synoptic forecast pattern is expected today or 
Monday as a broad upper level ridge continues to dominate the 
south central U.S. keeping both high and low temperatures above 
normal even by mid August standards. No changes were made to the 
previously issued heat advisory which will again be in effect
today from 11 AM until 8 PM. Forecast maximum heat indices are 
expected to range from 109-115 posing a health risk to anyone 
unable to find sufficient sources of cooling. 

Short range guidance is in good agreement on the combination of 
heat related instability and a developing afternoon sea breeze 
producing a few (20-30%) thunderstorms this afternoon and those 
lucky enough to find themselves underneath one will get a brief 
reprieve from both the heat as well as the expanding drought 
across the region. Any storms that develop will dissipate around 
sunset.

Increasing mid level moisture will wrap around the eastern 
periphery of the ridge Monday through Wednesday offering better 
(30- 50%) precipitation chances for those along and east of the 
Atchafalaya basin. The remainder of the region will continue to 
broil in the Cajun sauna with heat advisories likely needed each 
afternoon. 

The persistent upper level ridge will retrograde west into the four 
corners region by Thursday allowing deeper upper level moisture to 
sink into the area along a weak boundary. This is expected to 
substantially increase (30-70%) precipitation chances across the 
region while, concordantly, dropping afternoon highs back to "only" 
the low to mid 90s. 

Jones

&&

.AVIATION...
(06Z TAFS)
Issued at 1212 AM CDT Sun Aug 23 2026

VFR conditions will prevail through the period. Light 
westerly winds this morning will become southwesterly this 
afternoon. A few afternoon thunderstorms are expected to develop 
between 19-00Z during maximum heating as well as along an inland 
advancing sea breeze. Any storms that develop will dissipate by 01Z.

Jones

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 1212 AM CDT Sun Aug 23 2026

Light onshore winds will persist through the week with seas 
ranging from 1-2 feet. Precipitation chances return across the 
coastal waters Thursday into next weekend.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 1212 AM CDT Sun Aug 23 2026

A few afternoon thunderstorms will develop each day 
through Wednesday with the highest probabilities in and around the 
Atchafalaya basin. Better precipitation chances are expected area
wide Thursday through next weekend. 

KBDI values presently range from 530 to 750 across the region and will
continue climbing as drought conditions worsen over the next 
couple of weeks. Daily minimum relative humidity will range from
40-50% away from the immediate coastline through the middle of the
week. Personal outdoor burning is strongly discouraged. Burn bans
have been issued for most parishes and counties by local governments.
Consult your local fire departments for more information.

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM CDT this evening 
     for LAZ027>033-044-045-055-073-074-141>143-152>154-241>243-
     252>254.

TX...Heat Advisory from 11 AM this morning to 8 PM CDT this evening 
     for TXZ180-201-259>262-515-516-615-616.

GM...None.
&&

$$

PUBLIC/FIRE/MARINE...66
AVIATION...66