What should you know about Lafayette's weather?
- NWS office
- Lake Charles (LCH)
- Climate
- Humid subtropical
- Time zone
- CST/CDT
- Elevation
- 25 ft
- Coordinates
- 30.21° N, 92.03° W
- Nearest radar
- KLCH · Lake Charles NEXRAD · 71 mi
- County
- Lafayette Parish, LA
- Yearly rain
- 62.8 in
- Warmest month
- August · 83.5°F average
- Coldest month
- January · 52.8°F average
- Severe storm peak
- Apr to Jun
How much rain does Lafayette get each month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 62.2 | 66.1 | 72.6 | 79.0 | 85.9 | 90.2 | 91.5 | 92.3 | 89.0 | 81.3 | 71.5 | 64.4 |
| Low °F | 43.5 | 47.4 | 53.3 | 59.3 | 67.2 | 73.1 | 75.1 | 74.7 | 70.4 | 60.1 | 50.2 | 45.3 |
| Rain (in) | 5.92 | 4.07 | 3.72 | 4.91 | 5.44 | 7.09 | 6.27 | 6.26 | 5.02 | 4.76 | 4.39 | 4.96 |
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62.2 | 43.5 | 5.92 |
| Feb | 66.1 | 47.4 | 4.07 |
| Mar | 72.6 | 53.3 | 3.72 |
| Apr | 79.0 | 59.3 | 4.91 |
| May | 85.9 | 67.2 | 5.44 |
| Jun | 90.2 | 73.1 | 7.09 |
| Jul | 91.5 | 75.1 | 6.27 |
| Aug | 92.3 | 74.7 | 6.26 |
| Sep | 89.0 | 70.4 | 5.02 |
| Oct | 81.3 | 60.1 | 4.76 |
| Nov | 71.5 | 50.2 | 4.39 |
| Dec | 64.4 | 45.3 | 4.96 |
LAFAYETTE RGNL AP, LA US · 3 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020
How bad was the August 2016 flood in Lafayette?
About 12 to 26 inches of rain fell over the Vermilion River Basin, and the Vermilion River crested at 17.62 feet on August 15, 2016. The rain came from a slow-moving area of low pressure and very moist air that sat over Louisiana from August 11 to 14. Even so, the city still ranks August 1940 as the most severe flood in the area. In that storm the Lafayette Airport station recorded 27.33 inches from August 6 to 9.
Why does the Vermilion River flow backward during floods?
When the river below Pinhook Bridge cannot carry high flows, the water turns back upstream toward low marsh east of Lafayette Parish. The city says this reversal only happens between Pinhook Bridge and Long Bridge, where one bank borders a low swamp. When levels downstream are low, the river flows in its normal direction again. Rainfall alone does not tell you how the river will behave, so check NWS Lake Charles river forecasts along with the loop.
How cold and snowy was the January 2025 storm in Lafayette?
Lafayette Regional Airport measured 9.0 inches of snow, and the low fell to 4°F on January 22, 2025. That 4°F is the coldest reading in Lafayette records from 1893 to 2025, beating 6°F on February 13, 1899. The storm also brought the first Blizzard Warning that NWS Lake Charles has ever issued. Gusts of 30 to 40 mph hit southern Louisiana on the morning of January 21. During the storm, visibility fell to a quarter mile or less.
How hot did Lafayette get in the summer of 2023?
Lafayette hit 110°F on August 27, 2023, the warmest high in its records from 1893 to 2025. The old top mark was 107°F on July 13, 1901. The same summer brought the longest run of 100°F days on record, 17 in a row from July 30 to August 15, 2023. Highs stayed at 90°F or more for 99 straight days, from June 7 to September 13, 2023.
Can the Lafayette LA weather radar loop spot tornadoes?
It shows the storms that produce them, but small and brief tornadoes are easy to miss from this distance. KLCH is about 71 miles away, so its lowest scan passes well above the ground over Lafayette. The Storm Events entry for Lafayette Parish records 3 injuries from a tornado on January 25, 2004. Treat a tornado warning from NWS Lake Charles as your signal to take shelter, even if the loop looks calm.
When should you check the Lafayette radar?
Hurricane season
June 1 to November 30Most activity comes from mid-August to mid-October. Tropical rain bands swing in from the Gulf, so check the loop before driving I-10 or I-49.
Spring storm season
April to JuneAbout 56% of Lafayette Parish's 1996 to 2025 severe reports fall in these months. Organizers at Parc International downtown watch the loop before outdoor shows.
What else do people ask about the Lafayette radar?
Which NWS office and radar cover Lafayette?
NWS Lake Charles (LCH) issues forecasts and warnings for Lafayette. The nearest NEXRAD radar is KLCH, about 71 miles from the city center.
How often does the radar on this page update?
The radar loop on this page updates every 5 minutes.
Is this page an official warning service?
No. It shows radar and forecasts only. For warnings, follow NWS Lake Charles and local emergency alerts.
Quick facts
- Radar: KLCH (Lake Charles NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
- Forecasts and warnings: NWS Lake Charles (LCH)
- Severe storms peak from April to June (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
- Local time: CST/CDT
- Radar: KLCH, a new frame every 5 minutes
- Warnings: NWS Lake Charles (LCH)
- Severe storms: April to June
- Local time: CST/CDT
Where does this data come from?
- NOAA NEXRAD radar via Iowa Environmental Mesonet
- National Weather Service, Lake Charles office
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: LAFAYETTE RGNL AP, LA US
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2025
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- GOES-East satellite imagery
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- OpenStreetMap contributors
- Lafayette Consolidated Government: Flood hazard levels
- NWS Lake Charles: January 20 to 24, 2025 record snowfall and record cold
- NWS Lake Charles: Lafayette top ten individual days
- NWS Lake Charles: Lafayette extreme weather streaks
- National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology