FXUS64 KLCH 200529 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 1229 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 ...New AVIATION... .KEY MESSAGES... - A warming trend to continue for most of the forecast period. - High temperatures will be in the mid 80s to near 90 across interior SETX and CenLA this weekend and early next week. - Dry conditions continue, with little to no rain expected for the remainder of the forecast period. && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Saturday night) Issued at 205 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Surface high pressure is once again draped along the Eastern Seaboard to the NE Gulf Coast this afternoon, providing light southwest winds and sunny skies across the forecast area. Aloft, a deepening high pressure ridge is over the western CONUS, while a weakening trough is over the eastern CONUS, with the forecast area situated between the two. This has resulted in another dry and warm afternoon, with temperatures expected to top out in the mid 70s to near 80 degrees over the next couple of hours. Tomorrow, the synoptic set up will remain fairly unchanged as upper ridging continues to strengthen over the western CONUS and surface high pressure lingers across the Eastern Seaboard. This will result in another warm and dry day, with temperatures just a tad warmer than today, topping out in the upper 70s to low 80s. Moving into the weekend, the west CONUS upper ridge begins to shift east and flatten out across the CONUS, allowing the ongoing warming trend to amplify a bit. Highs will reach into the upper 80s across interior parts of the forecast area on Sat afternoon, with low to mid 80s elsewhere. Overnight, lows only fall into the upper 50s to mid 60s, around 10 degrees above seasonal norms. && .LONG TERM... (Sunday through next Wednesday) Issued at 205 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Broad upper ridging dominates the majority of the CONUS throughout the long term period, resulting in a repetitive and overall quiet forecast consisting of warm and dry conditions. Only real concern will be the heat, as highs continue to reach into the upper 80s each day across interior SE TX/CENLA. While record highs will likely not be reached, unseasonable warmth is expected throughout the long term period. In addition, several dry days ahead will likely cause ongoing drought conditions to worsen. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1226 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Mostly VFR conditions ongoing with exception to a few terminals experiencing LIFR VIS as a result of fog. Conditions are likely to worsen for several other sites through the overnight period. Whatever fog forms will be quick to burnoff shortly after sunrise. Otherwise, light SW to S winds and mostly clear skies to prevail. && .MARINE... Issued at 205 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Light mainly S to SW 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 205 PM CDT Thu Mar 19 2026 Conditions will continue moderate today through the weekend as light S to SW flow prevails. MinRH values will generally range from the low to mid 40s for inland locations, and from the upper 40s to upper 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 82 57 86 59 / 0 0 0 0 LCH 77 61 80 63 / 0 0 0 0 LFT 79 59 81 62 / 0 0 0 0 BPT 79 60 82 62 / 0 0 0 0 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. &&$$ SHORT TERM...17 LONG TERM....17 AVIATION...87