Lake Charles Regional Airport

KLCH / LCH

Lake Charles, US

Last Updated
Apr 23, 00:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 24 min ago
00:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
22°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 18°C
9 kt
160°
10 SM
Visibility
7,500 ft
Ceiling
Above Ground Level
1016 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KLCH 230053Z 16009KT 10SM FEW060 BKN075 22/18 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP168 T02170183

Clouds - Visual Profile

12,000ft
9,000ft
6,000ft
3,000ft
Ground
Field Elev: 15 ft
FEW 6,000 ft AGL
BKN 7,500 ft AGL
🌤️
FEW
Few (1/8-2/8 sky coverage)
6,000 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
6,015 ft AMSL
☁️
BKN
Broken (5/8-7/8 sky coverage)
7,500 ft
AGL (Above Ground)
7,515 ft AMSL

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lake Charles Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with broken clouds at 7,500 feet and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the south-southeast (160°) at 9 knots. Runway 15/33 is favored with a 9-knot headwind and 2-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. The ceiling is 7500 feet AGL (broken), well above standard VFR minimums.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 22°C (72°F) with a dewpoint of 18°C. The narrow temperature-dewpoint spread suggests high humidity and potential for visibility restrictions, especially during cooling periods.

Forecast Outlook

The TAF forecast covers the next 24 hours. Conditions are expected to fluctuate between VFR and MVFR. VFR pilots should be prepared for deteriorating conditions.

Pilot Recommendations

Conditions are favorable for visual flight. 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
1016 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1016 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (15 ft)
Pressure Alt
-68 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 776 ft
ISA Deviation: +7.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KLCH 222320Z 2300/2324 15010KT P6SM VCSH BKN040 FM230200 12005KT P6SM OVC025 FM231500 15011KT P6SM VCSH OVC035 FM231800 16013G20KT P6SM VCTS BKN050CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:16Z BASE
+0h
VFR 150° 10 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 4,000 ft
02:00Z FM230200
+1h
MVFR 120° 5 kt
Visibility: >6SM
Ceiling: 2,500 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
Chart Features
  • • Hover for exact values and timestamps
  • • Click legend items to toggle data series
  • • Zoom and pan for detailed analysis
  • • Units automatically converted to preferences
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 5,200 ft 100 ft ASP 51°
2.9 kt 8.5 kt
109° angle
✈️ 15/33
Active: 15
6,500 ft 150 ft CON 154°
8.9 kt 1.6 kt
10° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KLCH

7,579 observations | Sep 2025 - Apr 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
67.4%
MVFR
17.5%
IFR
8.2%
LIFR
6.9%

Lake Charles Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 67.4% 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
10%
SE
15.1%
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: 5.1 kt
Runway 15/33
Favorable wind: 100%
Avg crosswind: 4.5 kt

Statistics computed from 7,579 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.