FXUS64 KLCH 200740 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 240 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER... .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 no rain expected for the remainder of the forecast period. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 230 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Near normal conditions at many of our observation sites this early morning with light southerly winds and light patchy to dense ground fog in some areas. While it is currently not expected, we could see visibilities fall into dense fog advisory criteria. Regardless of issuance, one should be cautious while commuting this morning. Fog will burn off shortly after sunrise. A surface high pressure will meander east and south of the forecast area through the remainder of the period with southerly flow prevailing through the next several days. Aloft, a strong ridge over the desert SW will ever so slightly weaken going into the work week as it drifts SSE. This ridge in combination with a trough over the Atlantic coast will allow for northerly to northwesterly flow to prevail aloft. We can expect the warming trend to continue as daytime highs rise (and overnight lows fall) to about 10 degrees above normal going into the consecutive work week. Despite the stream of southerly flow continuing, showers are not expected in the entire day 0 to 7 forecast period. By the beginning of next week, the upper ridge will continue to erode as a weak and dry cool front approaches. Latest guidance now shows the front slowing as it bisects the region before retrograding. This will provide no real relief in the way of cooling, and the high pressure behind the front will quickly move off with northerly flow lasting less than a full day. From the mid week period to the end of the week, the upper ridge will be roughly over TX with areas of high pressure over the east coast and Gulf. Similar temperature conditions and lack of rain will prevail. && .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 230 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 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 230 AM CDT Fri Mar 20 2026 Conditions will continue moderate 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. From late this weekend through the work week, parts of interior SETX and the CenLA parishes not bordering the Atchafalaya could see MinRH values fall into the 30s. Despite some moisture slowly returning through the period, no measurable rainfall is expected for the foreseeable future. This could exacerbate ongoing drought conditions. && .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...87 LONG TERM....87 AVIATION...87