Louisiana/Texas – Rough Gulf waters are already creating hazardous conditions for boaters this morning, with strong winds and building seas forcing a Small Craft Advisory along the coast.
According to the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, northeast winds are running 15 to 25 knots with gusts up to 30 knots, pushing wave heights to between 4 and 8 feet across coastal waters from southeast Texas into southwest Louisiana. The advisory remains in effect through early afternoon nearshore and into the evening offshore, with some zones extending into early Tuesday.
Across coastal areas including Lake Charles, Cameron, Port Arthur, and Intracoastal City, conditions will remain dangerous for smaller vessels. Choppy bays and rough offshore waters could make navigation difficult, especially for inexperienced boaters. Officials urge mariners to avoid open waters until conditions improve.
On land, dry and cooler air holds through Tuesday with highs in the low to upper 70s and light winds. However, a shift begins by Wednesday as moisture increases, bringing a 20 to 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms through the end of the week.
By mid to late week, persistent easterly flow may also push water levels higher along the coast, leading to elevated tides in low-lying areas.
Conditions gradually improve late Tuesday, but caution remains critical for anyone heading onto the water.
Five Day Forecast for Lake Charles, LA
- Monday: Partly cloudy, high 70–75°F, low rain chance
- Tuesday: Partly cloudy, high 75–78°F, dry
- Wednesday: Chance of storms (20–50%), high 76–80°F
- Thursday: Showers and storms likely (30–50%), high 76–81°F
- Friday: Continued rain chances (30–40%), high 65–70°F
