904
FXUS64 KLCH 162002
AFDLCH

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
302 PM CDT Tue Jul 16 2024

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM, MARINE...

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Thursday night)
Issued at 148 PM CDT Tue Jul 16 2024

A subtropical ridge remains stretched from the Atlantic across the
northern gulf coast this afternoon with a light south to southwest
flow in place. This is keeping dewpoints well into the 70s. Aloft
the shear axis that has been parked over East TX for the past few
days has pinched off into an upper low however a drier airmass has
wrapped around the low. This drier airmass is serving to suppress
convection over SE TX and west and central LA. Scattered
convection remains ongoing across Lower Acadiana. Temperatures
have risen into the low to mid 90s at most locations away from
convection with only KBPT having hit an apparent temp of 108 as of
2:30.

Additional showers and storms may develop farther west and north from
the current area, however convection is expected to decrease
around sunset.

Wednesday an upper low that is currently nearing Lake Superior
will drop southeast then east into the Saint Lawrence Valley. The
associated upper trough will dig into the eastern sections of the
CONUS and send a cold front south. As the front nears the
northern gulf coast, moisture will pool ahead of the front. This
may increase dewpoints another degree or two into Wednesday
afternoon. Apparent temperatures may finally push over the 108F
threshold for more locations during the afternoon and not just the
spotty areas of the past few days. The only caveat is at which
time will convection get going and therefore cooling the area back
down. At this time confidence is not great regarding issuing a
heat adv and will let the mid shift look over timing of
convection.

This front will then stall over the region Thursday into the
extended. A stormy/wet pattern is anticipated.

05/Tingler

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Friday through next Monday)
Issued at 148 PM CDT Tue Jul 16 2024

A stalled front will be the main driver of the long term forecast.
With the front stalling on Friday and effecting our weather through
the weekend, before fading away over  the weekend.

Our air mass will be moist and unstable as the front acts as a focal
point for convection. Widespread showers and thunderstorms are
expected, with PoPs in the 80% range. Aloft, weak troughing will
help to enhance convection, leading to stronger thunderstorms and
heavy rain. Forecast soundings show high PWATs in the 75th to 90th
percentile. Storm motion also looks to be slow, below 10 knots. With
this in mind, flash flooding will be a concern, with the WPC placing
the area under a Marginal Risk (1/5) through the weekend.

Going into the start of next week, the heavy rain threat will
continue with widespread convection and cloud cover. Temperature-
wise the rain will keep our highs in the low 90s to high 80s.

14/Slaughter

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1221 PM CDT Tue Jul 16 2024

Scattered showers and storms are ongoing in Acadiana and will
remain possible through sunset. While VFR conditions are
anticipated area wide through the period, a brief drop in VIS may
be possible in any convection at KLCH, KARA, and KLFT. Light SW
winds will become calm tonight.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 148 PM CDT Tue Jul 16 2024

A light onshore flow is expected into early Thursday. A weak cold
front is expected to stall along the coast Thursday causing
variable winds into the weekend. Convection will also increase
across the coastal waters with the frontal boundary stalled in the
vicinity.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AEX  74  96  74  92 /  10  30  20  80
LCH  78  91  78  91 /  20  70  20  90
LFT  79  94  78  93 /  20  80  20  90
BPT  78  92  76  92 /  10  60  20  80

&&

.LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
LA...None.
TX...None.
GM...None.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM...05
LONG TERM....14
AVIATION...05