FXUS64 KLCH 191825 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 125 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026 ...New DISCUSSION, MARINE, FIRE WEATHER... .KEY MESSAGES... - An unsettled pattern will be in place from late Tuesday into the weekend as the southern jet stream brings a series of upper level disturbances to work with a very moist air mass. - The showers and thunderstorms that develop will have the potential to produce high rain rates and there is a risk of heavy rainfall and a risk for flooding into early next week. - Temperatures will remain on the warm and humid side. && .DISCUSSION... (This evening through next Monday) Issued at 124 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026 Midday surface analysis shows high pressure extending across the southeastern US from the Atlantic, while a cold front is draped from the Great Lakes to near DFW. The pressure gradient between these two features has again resulted in a somewhat breezy SE to S flow across the CWA today. Aloft, ridging dominates the east CONUS while troughing is over the Rockies, providing a W to SW flow overhead between these two features. A combination of southerly flow at the surface and southwesterly flow aloft will persist through the next several days, keeping a steady influx of warm, moist air into the region. In addition, a series of upper level shortwaves/disturbances are expected to pass overhead in the SWrly flow beginning tonight and continuing into the weekend, providing ample support for convection. Unsurprisingly, this combination of disturbances aloft and a steady stream of moisture throughout the column will bring about several days of warm and wet weather that will last through the end of the forecast period. Area radar this afternoon shows just a few isolated showers ongoing, amid otherwise cloudy skies. This trend should continue until later this evening/tonight, when the first in what is expected to be a series of MCS's arrives. CAMs are rather split on how much tonight's MCS actually holds together, with the HRRR keeping a strong line of storms all the way to the coast overnight, while other guidance shows part of the line tapering out/weakening as it draws closer to I-10. Regardless, this line will be accompanied by a chance for both excessive rainfall and severe weather, with damaging winds begin the main concern. SPC has backed off a bit, now including majority of the region (excluding lower Acadiana) in a Marginal Risk (previous SLGT Risk was trimmed back). On the other hand, WPC has bumped things up a bit, now outlining nearly all of SE TX in a Slight Risk with the remaining area in a Marginal Risk for Excessive Rainfall. Both of these risks will begin to ramp up this evening and continue through the early morning hours tomorrow, before another lull in convection arrives by sunrise. Tomorrow through Saturday, a Marginal Risk for Excessive Rainfall exists area-wide each day as several more rounds of rainfall are expected. However, like today, periods of dry conditions will occur between rounds of showers and storms each day. While it won't be possible to predict who/where exactly will get rain each day, guidance is hitting hard on the largest rainfall totals occurring over SE TX and CENLA, with the lower end totals over Acadiana. Beyond Saturday, long range guidance shows little change in the overall pattern, with more upper level shortwaves arriving on Sun/Mon which will more than likely induce more rounds of showers and storms through Memorial Day. Temperature wise, very little day to day changes are expected as showers/cloud cover will keep highs in the mid 80s each day, while a warm and moist airmass will hold overnight lows in the low to mid 70s. && .MARINE... Issued at 124 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026 A light to moderate southeast to south flow around 5-15 kts and light to modest seas around 1-4 feet will persist through the week and into the weekend. Chances for showers and thunderstorms will increase by Wednesday and remain high through the week into the weekend as a stalled frontal boundary and a series of upper level disturbances produce several waves of precipitation. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 124 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026 A light to moderate southerly flow will continue through the next several days bringing in rich amounts of Gulf moisture. Afternoon Minimum RH values will be around 70 percent or greater each day through the weekend. High chances for daily showers and thunderstorms are expected through the week into early next week as a stalled frontal boundary and a series of upper level disturbances provide waves of precipitation each day. Some locally heavy rainfall will be possible. && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && $$ PUBLIC/FIRE/MARINE...17 AVIATION...17