Lake Charles Regional Airport

KLCH / LCH

Lake Charles, US

Last Updated
Jul 5, 00:53Z

Current Weather

Display Units
Fresh 16 min ago
00:53Z

🌙 Night
VFR
Flight Rules
31°C
Temperature
Dewpoint: 25°C
6 kt
220°
10 SM
Visibility
Ceiling
Unlimited
1015 hPa
QNH
Altimeter Setting

Raw METAR

METAR KLCH 050053Z 22006KT 10SM CLR 31/25 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP152 T03060250

Weather Briefing

VFR

Lake Charles Regional Airport is currently reporting visual flight rules (VFR) conditions with clear skies and 10 SM visibility.

Wind Analysis

Winds are from the southwest (220°) at 6 knots. Runway 23 is favored with a 6-knot headwind and 1-knot crosswind component.

Visibility & Ceiling

Visibility is 10 SM. Skies are clear with unlimited ceiling.

Temperature & Moisture

Temperature is 31°C (88°F) with a dewpoint of 25°C, indicating moderate moisture conditions. High temperatures at this elevation may result in significant density altitude effects. Pilots should calculate density altitude and adjust performance expectations accordingly.

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. Expected weather includes: Thunderstorm Rain, Mist. There is a 30% probability of MVFR conditions with Thunderstorm Rain, Mist between 18:00Z and 00:00Z.

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
1015 hPa
Sea Level Pressure
For altitude above MSL
QFE
1015 hPa
Field Pressure
Height above aerodrome (15 ft)
Pressure Alt
-38 ft
QNE Reference
Standard: 1013 hPa
Density Altitude: 1,886 ft
ISA Deviation: +16.0°C

Forecast (TAF)

View Full TAF
Raw TAF
TAF KLCH 042335Z 0500/0524 16004KT P6SM FEW060 FM051400 24006KT P6SM FEW025 SCT250 PROB30 0518/0524 4SM TSRA BR BKN035CB
Upcoming Changes (Next 12 Hours)
01:09Z BASE
+0h
VFR 160° 4 kt
Visibility: >6SM

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
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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: 23
5,200 ft 100 ft ASP 51°
5.9 kt 1.0 kt
10° angle
15/33 6,500 ft 150 ft CON 154°
2.4 kt 5.5 kt
66° angle
🟢 Active Runway: Best headwind component for current conditions
⬆️ Headwind: Favorable wind component
↔️ Crosswind: ≤10kt Safe, 11-15kt Caution, >15kt Challenging

Weather Statistics - KLCH

10,186 observations | Sep 2025 - Jul 2026

Flight Rules Distribution

VFR
65.9%
MVFR
20.6%
IFR
7.8%
LIFR
5.7%

Lake Charles Regional Airport typically experiences VFR conditions 65.9% of the time, though instrument-rated pilots will find IFR weather present approximately 13.5% of observations. Prevailing winds are from the S averaging 7.8 knots, with gusts recorded up to 39 knots. Calm conditions occur 14.7% of the time. Temperature extremes range from -6°C to 34°C, reflecting significant seasonal variation. The best months for VFR flying are September, October, July.

Wind Analysis

Prevailing Direction: S (180°)
Average Speed: 7.8 kt
Maximum Recorded: 39 kt
Calm Winds: 14.7%
Direction Distribution:
E
10.4%
N
10.9%
S
26.3%
W
2.4%
NE
10.1%
NW
2.3%
SE
15.3%
SW
7.6%

Temperature Range

Average: 19.5°C
Range: -6°C to 34°C
-6°C 34°C

Visibility

Average: 8.7 SM
Below 3 SM: 3.5%
Fog Frequency: 8.8%

Best Months for VFR

September October July

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 10,186 METAR observations (Sep 2025 - Jul 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.