Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Lake Charles, Louisiana Weather

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night. Day 43 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Lake Charles weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Lake Charles, LA
Sunday, August 2 at 10:01 AM
85
°
Clear
Feels like
90°
Humidity
61%
Wind
9 mph
Sunrise
1:32 AM
Sunset
3:05 PM
Lake Charles, LA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastLake Charles, LA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 77 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 77°H 93°
Lake Charles, LA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Aug 2
    Overcast
    —
    —
    93°80°—
  2. Monday
    Aug 3
    Overcast
    —
    —
    98°77°+5°
  3. Tuesday
    Aug 4
    Overcast
    —
    —
    96°77°-2°
  4. Wednesday
    Aug 5
    Overcast
    19%
    —
    94°76°-2°
  5. Thursday
    Aug 6
    Drizzle
    24%
    —
    94°76°0°
  6. Friday
    Aug 7
    Partly Cloudy
    26%
    —
    92°74°-2°
  7. Saturday
    Aug 8
    Thunderstorm
    36%
    —
    90°74°-2°
Lake Charles, LA
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°74°86°98°12p6p12a6anow 85°high 93°low 77°
Lake Charles, LA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NNW
346° · veering 84°
Direction
NNW
346°
Sustained
9
mph
Gust
12
mph
Peak 24h
20
avg 8 mph
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 8 mph · pk 20 mph @ 11:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 159SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 84° from the nnw.
Lake Charles, LA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1010.0
+0.5 mb in 3h · steady · 29.83 inHg
Now
1010.0
mb
3h
+0.5
mb
12h
+1.1
mb
24h
-2.7
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1008–1013
1000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1012.71008.21010.0
Air sits at the threshold — small shifts decide the day.
Lake Charles, LA
Air quality
50
AQI
Good
↑+5 in 6h

AQI 50 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI up 5 over the last 6 hours (gradual rise). PM2.5 at 8.4 µg/m³, PM10 at 8.5 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
8.4μg/m³
PM 10Good
9μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneModerate
94μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
4.4

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 44 now. With UV 6.2 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 37.

Present
AQI 44
UV peak
6.2 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 37

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 8.4 µg/m³, PM10 at 8.5 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.99
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Lake Charles, LA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
2%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
57.7mi
UNLIMITED
70 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
15:01 UTC · Lake Charles, LA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
15:01 UTC · Lake Charles, LA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Lake Charles, LA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Lake Charles, LA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Lake Charles, LA
Almanac · Sunday, August 2
Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Civil dawn
6:07 AM
Sunrise
1:32 AM
Daylight
13h 33m
Sunset
3:05 PM
Civil dusk
8:33 PM
Planting note
Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.
Lake Charles, LA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
9:54 PM
Moonset
10:17 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Lake Charles, LA
Microseason
Aug 1–5

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

celestial
Jan 159% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Lake Charles at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 13°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: February 16 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Aug 1–5
  • Planting window: Sow fall peas. Start kale and collard seedlings for fall.

ZIP codes: 70601, 70605, 70607, 70609, 70611, 70615, 70629

16-Day Forecast — Lake Charles

  1. Sun93°80°6%
  2. Mon98°77°3%
  3. Tue96°77°9%
  4. Wed94°76°19%
  5. Thu94°76°24%
  6. Fri92°74°26%
  7. Sat90°74°36%
  8. Sun94°76°36%
  9. Mon85°75°44%
  10. Tue93°74°34%
  11. Wed92°76°15%
  12. Thu94°76°28%
  13. Fri94°77°30%
  14. Sat96°75°33%
  15. Sun96°77°32%
  16. Mon94°76°35%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Lake Charles

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of August 2, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Lake Charles

SPC includes Lake Charles in the general thunderstorm area tomorrow — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYNONENo severe risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

Sun & seasons in Lake Charles

Lake Charles sits in Calcasieu County, where the year’s longest day runs 14h 6m of daylight and its shortest just 10h 12m — a swing of +3h 54m between the June and December solstices. Clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 8, 2026 and fall back on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

New Orleans, the state’s largest city, lies about 196 miles to the E. The nearest town Lake Charles tracks is Lafayette, roughly 70 miles to the E.

Air quality in Lake Charles’s county has held roughly steady since 2020; its cleanest year on record was 2025 (median AQI 47). See the full air-quality history for Lake Charles.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · August 1–5

Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night

Sunset slides back toward 8 PM; darkness creeps in, signaling summer's decline though heat persists.

Day 214 of 365 · Wedge 43 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

July is Lake Charles's warmest stretch (~83°F) and January its coldest (~52°F); precipitation crests in August at 5.6 inches and ebbs in October to 2.5 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January52°4.4″17
February54°3.8″15
March61°4.2″18
April68°4.4″17
May75°3.8″18
June81°3.8″17
July83°4.8″23
August83°5.6″24
September79°3.5″17
October71°2.5″11
November61°4.7″15
December53°5.5″16

Regional context

Lake Charles's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 52°F Januarys with 83°F Julys — a 31°F swing. About 51.1 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 209 days a year.

No season owns Lake Charles's rain: August reaches 5.6 inches across 24.3 days and October keeps 2.5 inches on 10.9, an even spread through Lake Charles's year. It is a balanced pattern Lake Charles shares with places like Prien, LA, Westlake, LA and Moss Bluff, LA.

Freezes are uncommon in Lake Charles, where the coldest month averages 52°F; cool-season crops grow fall through spring. Summer heat in July (about 83°F) is the binding constraint, not cold. Lake Charles's coastal lots stay 4-7°F milder overnight than Lake Charles's inland parcels.

Similar climates: Prien, LA, Westlake, LA, Moss Bluff, LA, Sulphur, LA, Carlyss, LA.

Naturalist notes

Late April brings the return of ruby-throated hummingbirds to Lake Charles, their migration timed with blooming native flowers.

Southern magnolia trees begin their fragrant flowering cycle in May, marking the transition into full summer heat.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Lake Charles?
Lake Charles's last spring frost lands near mid-March, and in Lake Charles the first fall frost follows around mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Lake Charles?
Lake Charles sees its heaviest rain in August (around 5.6 inches), part of roughly 51 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Lake Charles?
The warmest stretch in Lake Charles comes in July, around 83°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Lake Charles?
On average January is the chilliest month in Lake Charles, about 52°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Lake Charles?
Time tomatoes in Lake Charles for two weeks after mid-March; peas and greens start at Lake Charles's frost line.
How many rainy days does Lake Charles get?
Expect roughly 209 wet days a year in Lake Charles.
What hardiness zone is Lake Charles?
Lake Charles's USDA zone comes from its January mean (52°F); enter the ZIP on the USDA lookup for the number.
What is the 10-day forecast for Lake Charles?
Lake Charles's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Lake Charles?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Lake Charles in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Lake Charles?
Current conditions for Lake Charles and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Lake Charles forecast updated?
The Lake Charles forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Lake Charles?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Lake Charles are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Lake Charles?
The next few days in Lake Charles's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Lake Charles, Louisiana has a humid subtropical climate: January averages roughly 52°F, July about 83°F, 31°F between them.

Yearly precipitation in Lake Charles totals around 51 inches, spread over about 209 days of rain or snow.

At 30.2°N, Lake Charles's 31°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Lake Charles's gardens wake and when frost returns.

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ZIP codes in Lake Charles

  • 70605
  • 70607
  • 70601
  • 70609
  • 70615
  • 70629
  • 70602
  • 70606
  • 70612
  • 70616

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.