Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Lake Charles, LA

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564 FXUS64 KLCH 071501 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 1001 AM CDT Tue May 7 2024 ...New UPDATE... .UPDATE...
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Issued at 958 AM CDT Tue May 7 2024 Another very warm and muggy day across the forecast area. PWAT value on the 07/12z upper air sounding from KLCH was near 1.75 inches. There was some dry air in the mid levels, so this will likely preclude any widespread shower activity today. Still, would not be surprised to see a few small light showers develop with daytime heating like the CAMs are showing. Otherwise, forecast is on track. Rua
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&& .SHORT TERM... (Today through Thursday night) Issued at 336 AM CDT Tue May 7 2024 Continued elevated winds have kept clouds off the ground this morning, but in a pretty solid low level ceiling. The combination of tropical winds and cloud cover is yielding very warm minimum temperatures in the mid to upper 70s this morning more reminiscent of August than early May. Both the breezy winds and cloud cover should prevail through most of the day. CAMS guidance has been overly enthusiastic about precip development through nearly the entire day one period and these were heavily discounted as unrepresentative. A weak boundary will push through parts of the ArkLaTex region through the day so not completely ruling out a stray shower or thunderstorm across parts of central Louisiana this afternoon in response to that, but wasn`t confident enough in that to even include isolated PoPs at this time. No significant changes to the pattern expected through Wednesday as consistent west southwesterly flow aloft will keep the mid and upper levels dry enough to prevent precipitation. The low responsible for the ongoing severe weather outbreak across the plains will continue to work east, but keep the pressure gradient tight enough locally to keep winds between 10 and 15 knots through Wednesday night. A late season cold front will swing quickly through the area Thursday afternoon into Thursday night initializing scattered convection as it does so. Owing primarily to the saturated ground, WPC has highlighted areas away from the coast in a marginal risk of excessive rainfall. That said, forecast QPF accumulation is pretty unimpressive and this event does not look to pose a significant flash flood concern. Jones && .LONG TERM... (Friday through Tuesday) Issued at 336 AM CDT Tue May 7 2024 Seasonable and fair weather can be expected for most of the long term. As the period kicks off on Friday, the cold front will be off to our east with an area of high pressure building into the Plains. Cooler and drier air will move in, with near and slightly below normal climatological temperatures. (MaxTs in the 80s, MinTs in the 60s.) Dewpoints will be in the 50s to 60s for the duration of the period leading to less humid/muggy conditions. As the high pressure slips off to the east Sunday and into Monday, we will see southerly flow return to the area. While temps and dewpoints will rebound, they will do so slowly. Model guidance is still a bit murky going into the next work week, however we could see some low end rain chances with a weak coastal trough moving across the Gulf and with a disturbance moving over the Rockies and into the Plains. Stigger/87 && .AVIATION... (12Z TAFS) Issued at 638 AM CDT Tue May 7 2024 MVFR ceilings will prevail through the day today within a very moist low level environment. Breezy southerly winds in the 10-15 knot range will persist through the period in response to a low pressure area moving across the plains. Ceilings are expected to fall to IFR late tonight with patchy light fog possible early Wednesday morning where winds fall below 10 knots. Jones && .MARINE... Issued at 336 AM CDT Tue May 7 2024 A light to moderate onshore flow and seas of two to four feet will prevail today and tomorrow. A cold front will push through the coastal waters Thursday night accompanied by isolated showers and thunderstorms. Offshore flow will develop behind the front Friday through the weekend. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 87 72 91 71 / 10 0 0 10 LCH 83 74 86 74 / 10 0 0 0 LFT 88 76 89 76 / 10 0 0 0 BPT 85 74 87 74 / 10 0 0 0 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...66 LONG TERM....87 AVIATION...66