Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Lake Charles, LA
Issued by NWS Lake Charles, LA
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210 FXUS64 KLCH 042126 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 426 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 ...New SYNOPSIS, SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE, HYDROLOGY... .SYNOPSIS... Issued at 356 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 Scattered convection continues to develop across the area this afternoon in response to a subtle disturbance passing over the region. This activity continues to develop in a very moist airmass, with PWATs around 1.70 inches (around the 90th percentile per SPC Climo). Given the considerable moisture, some storms could be capable of producing heavy rainfall and very high rain rates, potentially aggravating ongoing flooding across SE TX. So far today, a few small cells have produced heavy rains, yielding increased flows per FLASH data, but convection has not been particularly robust and the generally progressive nature has helped limit flash flooding. Otherwise, the rainy pattern is expected to persist with another disturbance moving into the region tonight into Sunday. A Flood Watch has been issued for our SE TX Counties, as any additional rain over the saturated ground will contribute further to ongoing flooding. 24 && .SHORT TERM... (Tonight through Monday night) Issued at 356 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 This afternoon`s convection is expected to diminish by early this evening. The next round of showers and storms will be forming across TX and moving into the area later tonight after midnight. Rain chances will expand and increase from west to east overnight into Sunday. PWATs are progged to remain elevated across the region (peaking between 1.6 and 1.7 inches, or slighter higher). Sufficient lift, instability and deep layer shear will support organization and strong updrafts to allow for both heavy rainfall and a low end severe threat. A few isolated storms could produce a damaging wind gust or two as well as some marginally severe hail, although convection will likely weaken as it progresses east. SPC has outlined a MRGL risk for severe weather given this scenario. The more impactful threat however continues to be the potential for heavy rainfall over an area that is already saturated, with moderate to major river flooding ongoing. WPC has outlined much of our SE TX areas with a MDT risk for excessive rainfall tonight into Sunday. The HRRR, ARW and HREF show some of the highest rainfall accumulations across Tyler, Hardin and Jefferson Counties (areas that have already received between 8 and 12 inches of rain over the past week). At this time, blended guidance and WPC suggest area totals of 1 to 3 inches of rain across this area, but localized higher totals of up to 6 inches will certainly be possible (possibly higher if some guidance members verify). There is still some uncertainty when the rain chances will finally begin to decrease as the HRRR and ARW suggest one last cluster of convection will move through early Sunday evening. Rain chances should begin to diminish after midnight Sunday night, but some low chances will develop again with daytime heating on Monday. 24 && .LONG TERM... (Tuesday through next Friday) Issued at 356 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 At the start of the extended period low pressure will be across the northern plains with weak ridging across the northern gulf coast into the Atlantic. This is anticipated to produce dry but breezy conditions across the local area for Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures are also expected to run several degrees above climo normals for the date. Late in the week, an upper trough and associated surface low will move across the upper midwest and Great Lakes region. This may push a cold front to the gulf coast by Friday, however ahead of the boundary, compressional heating may nudge high temperatures in the 90s north of I-10 Thursday afternoon. Showers and storms may be possible along the boundary, but overall coverage is only forecast to be in the 10 to 30% range at the current time. Drier and cooler temperatures are forecast to filter in behind the boundary for the weekend. 05 && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) Issued at 1137 AM CDT Sat May 4 2024 Visible satellite shows multiple cloud layers over the region, a low cumulus deck forming amid the southeasterly low level flow and a midlevel altocumulus deck spreading across the area from the west. The lowest clouds continue to create a mix of SCT VFR to BKN MVFR conditions at area terminals, but anticipate all sites will prevail in VFR through the afternoon. A few TSRA will also be possible through the afternoon as a weak perturbation moves over the area. Cigs should gradually lower back to MVFR overnight into Sunday morning, amid generally light southerly winds. Another round of SHRA/TSRA will begin moving into the area from the west after 12Z Sunday, potentially affecting BPT/LCH. 24 && .MARINE... Issued at 356 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 A light to moderate onshore flow and seas two to four feet will prevail for much of the upcoming week. Scattered showers and storms are again expected to develop tonight into Sunday, then diminishing Sunday night with rain chances remaining limited through the week. 24 && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 356 PM CDT Sat May 4 2024 River flooding is expected to persist for several days, and additional rainfall on Sunday may extend or worsen conditions within area basins. Moderate to Major Flooding continues within the Neches River basin, with major flooding occurring or forecast on the Village Creek near Kountze, the Pine Island Bayou at Sour Lake and at the Neches River Saltwater Barrier. Moderate flooding is also expected along the Sabine River from Bon Wier to Deweyville. Further east, flooding remains in minor category along the Calcasieu River. Please monitor updated forecasts via the NWS AHPS website and/or the new NWS NWPS webpage (https://water.noaa.gov/) as the river flood threat continues. 24 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 65 82 66 85 / 30 60 20 30 LCH 71 83 71 84 / 30 40 20 20 LFT 71 85 72 86 / 20 40 20 20 BPT 72 82 71 84 / 30 50 20 10 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...Flood Watch through Sunday evening for TXZ180-201-259>262-515- 516-615-616. GM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...24 LONG TERM....05 AVIATION...24