Lake Charles, Louisiana Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 78 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Lake Charles weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 5Overcast21%—87°70°—
- SaturdayJun 6Thunderstorm31%—86°75°-1°
- SundayJun 7Drizzle14%—88°74°+2°
- MondayJun 8Overcast11%—88°74°0°
- TuesdayJun 9Overcast24%—90°75°+2°
- WednesdayJun 10Partly Cloudy29%—93°74°+3°
- ThursdayJun 11Mostly Clear28%—91°73°-2°
AQI 30 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI down 8 over the last 6 hours (steady decline since this morning). PM2.5 at 6.0 µg/m³, PM10 at 7.9 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.
What's driving it
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 6.0 µg/m³, PM10 at 7.9 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.76
- 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).
The higher the clouds, the finer the weather.
- Moonrise
- 4:51 AM
- Moonset
- 3:41 PM
- In sign
- ♒︎ Aquarius
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Lake Charles at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 13°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: February 16 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 5, 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 has placed Lake Charles in the General Thunderstorms category for severe thunderstorms today.
- TODAYTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
- 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.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
August brings Lake Charles's peak heat (~84°F mean) while January delivers the year's coldest temperatures (~53°F). June sees maximum rainfall at 6.5 inches, with February recording the driest conditions at 3.3 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53° | 5.9″ | 6 |
| February | 57° | 3.3″ | 5 |
| March | 63° | 3.7″ | 5 |
| April | 69° | 4.4″ | 5 |
| May | 76° | 5.4″ | 5 |
| June | 82° | 6.5″ | 8 |
| July | 84° | 5.7″ | 8 |
| August | 84° | 6.2″ | 7 |
| September | 80° | 5.2″ | 6 |
| October | 71° | 4.8″ | 5 |
| November | 61° | 4.1″ | 5 |
| December | 55° | 4.6″ | 6 |
Regional context
Lake Charles belongs to the humid subtropical climate region — sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with nearby cities in this climate zone.
Similar climates: New Orleans, LA, Baton Rouge, LA, Shreveport, LA, Lafayette, LA, Metairie, 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?
- Spring's final frost typically occurs around mid-March in Lake Charles, while the first fall frost returns around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Lake Charles?
- June ranks as the wettest month with about 6.5 inches of rain on average; annual totals reach roughly 60 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Lake Charles?
- August typically records the highest temperatures, averaging about 84°F.
- What is the coldest month in Lake Charles?
- January brings the coldest weather, averaging about 53°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Lake Charles?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-March; warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Lake Charles get?
- Lake Charles experiences about 71 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Lake Charles?
- Lake Charles's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; the USDA's online lookup using the city ZIP code provides the current zone designation.
Climate
Lake Charles, Louisiana experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures hover near 53°F while July averages 84°F — a 31°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation reaches about 60 inches across roughly 71 rainy days throughout the year.
Geography shapes the local weather patterns through latitude (30.2°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — factors that determine what grows here, when frost threatens, and daily weather conditions.