Lake Charles Regional Airport

KLCH / LCH

Lake Charles, US

Last Updated
Apr 22, 11:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 17 min ago
11:53Z

☀️ Day
VFR
Flight Rules
19°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 17°C
7 kt
100°
8 SM
Visibility
11,000 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1019 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KLCH 221153Z 10007KT 8SM FEW036 BKN110 19/17 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP200 70005 T01890172 10189 20178 53004

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 15 ft
FEW 3,600 ft AGL
BKN 11,000 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
3,600 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
3,615 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
11,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
11,015 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lake Charles Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 11,000 feet and 8 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the east (100°) at 7 knots. Runway 05/23 is favored with a 4-knot headwind and 5-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 8 SM. The ceiling is 11000 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 19°C (66°F) with a dewpoint of 17°C. The temperature-dewpoint spread is very narrow, indicating saturated or near-saturated air. Fog formation or low cloud development is likely.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. The forecast shows a transition between VFR and IFR conditions. Pilots should monitor the forecast closely and have an alternate airport plan. Expected weather includes: Light Showers Rain, Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. Temporary IFR conditions are forecast with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 15:00Z and 19:00Z.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread creates risk of fog formation, particularly during evening and early morning hours. The forecast indicates conditions may deteriorate. Ensure you have fuel reserves and a viable alternate airport.

This briefing is generated from real-time METAR and TAF data. Always verify with official sources before flight.

QNH
1019 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1019 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (15 ft)
Pressure Alt
-158 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 326 ft
ISA Deviation: +4.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KLCH 221127Z 2212/2312 09005KT P6SM VCSH BKN040 FM221500 13009KT P6SM -SHRA VCTS BKN035CB TEMPO 2215/2219 2SM TSRA BR OVC025CB FM222100 15010KT P6SM VCSH BKN040 FM230200 VRB05KT P6SM OVC025
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
12:10Z BASE
+0h
VFR 90° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
15:00Z FM221500
+3h
MVFR 130° 9 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 3,500 ft
Light Showers Rain
15:00Z TEMPO
+3h
IFR
Visibility: 2SM
Ceiling: 2,500 ft
Thunderstorm Rain, Mist
21:00Z FM222100
+9h
VFR 150° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft

24-Hour Weather Evolution

Loading weather data...
Data Sources
  • • Current conditions from METAR observations
  • • Historical data from past 24 hours
  • • No forecast or predicted data included
  • • Data updated with each new METAR report
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Note: Future values beyond current TAF validity are estimates based on climatological data and trends. Always verify with current forecasts before flight operations.

Airport Runway Layout

N
LCH
05 ✈️
23
15
33

Runway Information

Runway Length Width Surface Heading Wind Component
✈️ 05/23
Active: 05
5,200 ft 100 ft ASP 51°
4.5 kt 5.4 kt
50° angle
15/33 6,500 ft 150 ft CON 154°
4.1 kt 5.7 kt
54° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KLCH

7,545 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
67.3%
MVFR
17.5%
IFR
8.2%
LIFR
6.9%

Lake Charles Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 67.3% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 15.1% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.7 knots, with gusts recorded up to 39 knots. Calm conditions occur 16.6% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -6°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. Fog is a notable factor, occurring in approximately 11.8% of observations, with visibility below 3 SM in 4.3% of reports. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, November.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.7 kt
Maximum Recorded: 39 kt
Calm Winds: 16.6%
Direction Distribution:
N
12.9%
NE
10.3%
E
9.9%
SE
15%
S
22.8%
SW
7.1%
W
2.5%
NW
2.7%

Temperature Range

Average: 17.6°C
Range: -6°C to 34°C
-6°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 8.6 SM
Below 3 SM: 4.3%
Fog Frequency: 11.8%

Best Months for VFR

September October November

Runway Wind Analysis

Runway 05/23
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 5 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt

Statistics computed from 7,545 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Apr 2026). Data sourced from official aviation weather services. Updated daily.

Lake Charles Regional Airport - Airport Information

Airport Details

ICAO Code: KLCH
IATA Code: LCH
Type: medium airport
Status: active
Elevation: 15 ft MSL

Location

City: Lake Charles
Country: US
Latitude: 30.126101°
Longitude: -93.223297°
Time Zone: Etc/GMT+6

Runway Information

Runway 05/23
Length: 5,200 ft
Width: 100 ft
Surface: ASP
ILS: No
Runway 15/33
Length: 6,500 ft
Width: 150 ft
Surface: CON
ILS: No

About Lake Charles Regional Airport

Overview

Lake Charles Regional Airport serves southwestern Louisiana as a medium-sized airport situated near the Gulf Coast. Located at coordinates 30.126101, -93.223297 with an elevation of 15 feet MSL, the airport provides critical regional aviation infrastructure. Its two runways support diverse general aviation, commercial, and potential military operations in the Lake Charles metropolitan area.

Flying Conditions

Weather conditions at KLCH demonstrate significant variability, with Visual Flight Rules (VFR) predominating at 70.1% of observations. Pilots can expect prevailing southerly winds averaging 7.2 knots, with temperature ranges from -2°C to 34°C. Seasonal visibility averages 8.7 statute miles, though fog occurs in 12.4% of observations, and marginal conditions (MVFR/IFR) are present in approximately 22.9% of reports.

Notable Features

The airport features two runways: Runway 05/23 with 5,200 feet of asphalt surface, and Runway 15/33 with 6,500 feet of concrete surface. Both runways demonstrate consistent wind alignment, with 100% favorable wind coverage and minimal average crosswind conditions around 4.4-4.5 knots. The low elevation and coastal proximity suggest potential for rapid weather transitions.

Approach Considerations

September through November represent the most consistent VFR flying months, offering optimal approach conditions. Pilots should anticipate potential reduced visibility scenarios, with 4.3% of observations showing visibility below 3 statute miles. The dual runway configuration provides flexibility for wind management, with the longer Runway 15/33 offering additional landing options during variable conditions.

Data Sources & Accuracy: Airport information sourced from OurAirports.com, a collaborative database of worldwide airport data. Weather data from official aviation weather services including NOAA Aviation Weather Center and international METAR/TAF providers. Information is updated regularly but pilots should always verify current conditions and NOTAMs through official channels before flight operations.

Official Data Sources

Weather NOAA Aviation Weather Center • International METAR/TAF Network
Airports OurAirports.com • Public domain airport database
NOTAMs FAA NOTAM System • ICAO NOTAM Distribution
Last updated: Jan 1, 1970 12:00 AM UTC

Disclaimer: Data is provided for informational purposes only. Pilots must verify all information through official sources before flight operations. Weather conditions change rapidly; always obtain a current briefing from approved weather services.