Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Lake Charles, LA
Issued by NWS Lake Charles, LA
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381 FXUS64 KLCH 180431 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 1131 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 ...New AVIATION... .UPDATE... Issued at 933 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 The main concern for the remainder of the evening into the overnight is how much of the activity over the Gulf can work its way into southern Louisiana and how intense will it be. The 18/00z upper air sounding had a rather stable and capped layer between 85H-70H. This would tend to weaken and keep activity elevated and this has been the trend this evening. However, there does seem to be an instability axis that is located over the coastal waters about 20 nm offshore the southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana coast. It does seem to push northeastward from there and into portions of lower Acadiana. Therefore, there is a better chance to see strong storms into the overnight for locations roughly east and southeast of a Pecan Island to New Iberia line. With favorable 0-6km shear and lapse rates, to go along with enough low level instability, and there is a chance for the storms that move into the area to produce hail and gusty winds. SPC is monitoring that area, and locations off to the east of the forecast area, for a potential severe thunderstorm watch. Made some minor adjustments to the grids based on latest radar trends and hi-res guidance. Rua && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Sunday night) Issued at 351 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 The latest radar and satellite imagery reveal partly to mostly cloudy skies and light showers streaming in from the southeast this afternoon. This activity will likely continue into the evening hours, but should remain below severe limits. An approaching shortwave, in combination with high moisture content and instability, will bring another round of showers and thunderstorms late tonight into early Saturday morning for areas along and south of I-10 and the Gulf waters. The latest suite of high res guidance indicates that the onset of any convective development is likely to be after 2-3AM for areas along and south of a Lake Charles to Lafayette line, and is expected to move east to southeast into early Saturday morning. Forecast model soundings support the potential for damaging wind gusts and large hail with any severe thunderstorms. In addition to the potential for severe weather, locally heavy rain may also bring a threat for flash flooding for areas along and south of a Lake Charles to Lafayette line. HREF guidance indicates additional amounts of 1-2 inches will be possible through early Saturday. With the highest rainfall amounts expected to fall further south of the Flood Watch configuration, the Flood Watch has been cancelled for this evening. While there still may be minor issues with recent rainfall, expect fairly light rainfall amounts through this evening. Otherwise, the combination of light winds and high moisture content may result in the development of patchy fog tonight. Expect cloudy skies with low temperatures in the 60s region wide tonight. Ridging is expected to build over the region heading into the weekend, which will bring an end to the unsettled weather pattern. Highs will be in the upper 80s and low 90s with low temperatures in the upper 60s and low 70s. && .LONG TERM... (Monday through next Thursday) Issued at 351 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 The work week will feature above normal temperatures with highs in the upper 80s and low 90s as high pressure and ridging prevail. In combination with the humidity, afternoon heat index values will rise into the mid to upper 90s each afternoon. Unsettled weather may return toward the end of the week as an upper level disturbance approaches, but most precipitation chances are expected to remain further north. && .AVIATION... (06Z TAFS) Issued at 1126 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 A short wave will move across with showers and thunderstorms developing near an instability axis from just off the coast of southeast Texas into lower Acadiana. KBPT and KLCH will have light thunderstorm activity with MVFR conditions until about 18/08z. A better chance of thunderstorm activity will be at the KLFT and KARA terminals through 18/12z with potential for IFR conditions at KARA. Once the storm activity ends, and for the terminal at KAEX, low clouds and patchy fog will form with MVFR into IFR conditions through about 18/15z. On Saturday, drier and more stable air will move in and this should lead to mainly VFR conditions after 18/15z through the remainder of the day. Rua && .MARINE... Issued at 351 PM CDT Fri May 17 2024 Another round of showers and thunderstorms is expected to develop across the coastal waters late tonight into early Saturday morning. Winds and seas could be significantly stronger in the vicinity of any thunderstorms. Light to moderate winds will result in gradually falling seas late this weekend into next week. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 64 87 67 89 / 30 10 0 0 LCH 68 87 70 89 / 40 10 0 0 LFT 70 88 71 91 / 60 10 0 0 BPT 68 89 70 91 / 40 0 0 0 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...07 LONG TERM....99 AVIATION...07