Lake Charles Regional Airport

KLCH / LCH

Lake Charles, US

Current TAF Forecast

Raw TAF:
TAF KLCH 042335Z 0500/0524 16004KT P6SM FEW060 FM051400 24006KT P6SM FEW025 SCT250 PROB30 0518/0524 4SM TSRA BR BKN035CB

Detailed TAF Table

Parameter
Sun
05:00Z
+-1h
Sun
06:00Z
+0h
Sun
07:00Z
+1h
Sun
08:00Z
+2h
Sun
09:00Z
+3h
Sun
10:00Z
+4h
Sun
11:00Z
+5h
Sun
12:00Z
+6h
Sun
13:00Z
+7h
Sun
14:00Z
+8h
Sun
15:00Z
+9h
Sun
16:00Z
+10h
Sun
17:00Z
+11h
Sun
18:00Z
+12h
Sun
19:00Z
+13h
Sun
20:00Z
+14h
Sun
21:00Z
+15h
Sun
22:00Z
+16h
Wind Dir
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
240°
SW
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
160°
S
Wind Speed
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
6 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
>6SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
4SM
Weather
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
☀️ Clear
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
TSRA BR
30%
Clouds
FEW060
FEW060
FEW060
FEW060
FEW060
FEW060
FEW060
FEW060
FEW060
FEW025
SCT250
FEW025
SCT250
FEW025
SCT250
FEW025
SCT250
BKN035CB
BKN035CB
BKN035CB
BKN035CB
BKN035CB
Ceiling
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
🌤️ Unlimited
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
3,500 ft
AGL
Flight Rules VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR VFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR MVFR
Day/Night
🌅
Dawn
🌅 05:01Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:01Z
☀️
Day
🌅 05:01Z
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
☀️
Day
🌇 18:58Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:58Z
☀️
Day
🌇 18:58Z
🌇
Dusk
🌇 18:58Z
🌙
Night
🌇 18:58Z
🌙
Night
🌙
Night
Flight Rules
VFR: Visual Flight Rules
MVFR: Marginal VFR
IFR: Instrument Flight Rules
LIFR: Low IFR
Ceiling Colors
Red: < 500ft
Amber: 500-1000ft
Blue: 1000-3000ft
Green: > 3000ft
⛈️ TCU: Towering Cumulus
🌩️ CB: Cumulonimbus
+Nh: Hours from now%: Probability of occurrenceAGL: Above Ground Level

Forecast Periods

BASE
VFR
Wind
160° at 4 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW060
📖 Plain English Explanation:

This is the base forecast condition. Winds from the South-Southeast (160°) at 4 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 6000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

FM051400 14:00Z - 20:00Z
VFR
Wind
240° at 6 kt
Visibility
>6SM
Clouds
FEW025 SCT250
📖 Plain English Explanation:

Winds from the West-Southwest (240°) at 6 kt. Visibility will be excellent at more than 6SM. Few clouds at 2500 feet, Scattered clouds at 25000 feet. Conditions will be suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR) operations.

PROB30 18:00Z - 00:00Z
MVFR
Visibility
4SM
Weather
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
Clouds
BKN035CB
📖 Plain English Explanation:

There is a 30% probability of: Visibility will be good at 4SM. Weather conditions: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Broken clouds at 3500 feet. Marginal VFR conditions - some restrictions for visual flying.

📚 Understanding TAF Forecasts

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) provides detailed weather forecasts specifically for aviation operations. Our system translates complex meteorological codes into plain English to help pilots of all experience levels understand forecasted conditions.

What TAF Includes:

  • • Wind direction, speed, and gusts
  • • Visibility in statute miles or kilometers
  • • Weather phenomena (rain, snow, fog, thunderstorms)
  • • Cloud coverage types and altitudes
  • • Forecast changes with timing
  • • Flight rules categories (VFR/IFR)

Change Indicators Explained:

  • BASE - Main forecast conditions
  • FM - Permanent change from specific time
  • BECMG - Gradual change over 2-4 hours
  • TEMPO - Temporary changes (less than 1 hour)
  • PROB30/40 - 30% or 40% probability

🛩️ Flight Rules Categories

VFR

Visual Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling ≥ 3000 ft
  • • Visibility ≥ 5 miles
  • • Good for visual flying

MVFR

Marginal VFR

  • • Ceiling 1000-3000 ft
  • • Visibility 3-5 miles
  • • Caution for VFR

IFR

Instrument Flight Rules

  • • Ceiling 500-1000 ft
  • • Visibility 1-3 miles
  • • Instruments required

LIFR

Low IFR

  • • Ceiling < 500 ft
  • • Visibility < 1 mile
  • • Challenging conditions

💡 TAF Reading Tips

For Student Pilots:

  • • Focus on the plain English explanations above
  • • Pay attention to flight rules categories
  • • Look for wind direction relative to runway headings
  • • Check for temporary conditions (TEMPO)

For Experienced Pilots:

  • • Cross-reference with raw TAF for precise timing
  • • Consider probability forecasts for alternate planning
  • • Monitor BECMG periods for gradual changes
  • • Always check current METAR vs TAF forecast

Important: TAF forecasts should always be supplemented with current METAR observations, PIREPs, and other weather information for complete situational awareness. Weather can change rapidly, and forecasts have inherent limitations.