FXUS64 KLCH 111620 AFDLCH Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Lake Charles LA 1020 AM CST Mon Dec 11 2023 ...New UPDATE, AVIATION... .UPDATE... Wx map shows 1027 mb surface high pressure ridge from Southern Louisiana to Tennessee this morning. With the weak pressure gradient, winds will mainly be variable around 5 mph or less today and tonight. Expected highs in the upper 50s to near 60 this afternoon. Current forecast on track with no updates needed at this time. 08/DML && .SHORT TERM... (Today through Wednesday night) Issued at 333 AM CST Mon Dec 11 2023 Current temps are in the upper 20s and lower 30s north of I10 with middle 30s south of I10 and 40s along the immediate coast. Expect these temps to drop a couple more degrees through the morning with widespread frost likely for many this morning. Today will feature plenty of sunshine with highs in the lower 60s. Winds will be light as high pressure builds across the region. Strong high pressure shifts east Tuesday/Wednesday brining gusty easterly winds. Clouds will increase with highs in the lower and middle 60s. && .LONG TERM... (Thursday through Monday) Issued at 333 AM CST Mon Dec 11 2023 The extended period is shaping up to be rather breezy as the region finds itself squeezed between a sprawling surface high meandering across the eastern U.S. and a developing low over the Bay of Campeche and Yucutan Peninsula. Consistent East Northeasterly winds between 15-20 knots are expected Thursday through Sunday with winds of 20+ knots over the coastal waters. The long fetch is expected to push wave heights to 9-12 feet over the outer coastal waters Thursday through Saturday. As the surface low lifts slowly Northeast across the Gulf of Mexico from late Thursday through Saturday, showers will develop over the coastal waters, but guidance has been and continues to be in good agreement on this activity remaining offshore Thursday and Thursday night. Guidance has come into significantly better agreement on the progression of an upper level low pushing east out of the southwestern U.S. late in the week compared to 24 hours ago although there remain some modest differences in timing. With the center of the low expected to move offshore, severe weather isn't expected to be a concern, but the weekend is looking rather wet with a 24-30 hour period of widespread light to moderate showers sometime from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening. && .AVIATION... (18Z TAFS) VFR conditions expected through the period. Northeast to east winds 5-7 kts this afternoon, becoming nearly calm by 00z, and east around 7-8 kts after 15z Tuesday. 08/DML && .MARINE... Issued at 333 AM CST Mon Dec 11 2023 Conditions will improve today as high pressure builds in overhead. Winds and seas will increase by Tuesday night and remain elevated into Friday as a tightening pressure gradient produces a prolonged and strong easterly fetch across the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Wave heights may reach 7-11 feet in the outer waters by Thursday. Small craft should begin exercising caution Tuesday morning, with Advisories likely needed starting in the afternoon or evening. && .CLIMATE... Issued at 325 PM CST Sun Dec 10 2023 It is not likely that any records get broken tonight. Low temperature records for 12/11 are as follows: Temp(F) / Year Lake Charles 28 / 1995* Beaumont 28 / 1958* Alexandria 20 / 1898 Lafayette 23 / 1898 New Iberia 27 / 1995 * Asterisk denotes a record which tied itself previously. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AEX 59 29 61 33 / 0 0 0 0 LCH 60 37 63 40 / 0 0 0 0 LFT 60 37 64 40 / 0 0 0 0 BPT 62 42 65 44 / 0 0 0 0 && .LCH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... LA...None. TX...None. GM...None. && $$ SHORT TERM...08 LONG TERM....66 AVIATION...08