Tide Station (LCH) at Lake Charles
Louisiana — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Calcasieu County, Louisiana on the Tide Station (LCH). Live water level data from USGS, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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This is an NWS forecast point (LID: LCLL1). Live data may be limited. View on NWS AHPS →
Flood Stages
Major Flood
6 ft
Moderate Flood
4 ft
Minor Flood
3 ft
Action Stage
2.34 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
10 ft
FLOODING BEGINS TO OVERTOP THE AREA AROUND THE PITHON COULEE PUMP STATION.
9.5 ft
WATER LEVELS ARE NEAR THOSE REACHED WITH THE STORM SURGE FROM HURRICANE IKE IN 2008. WIDESPREAD FLOODING IS OCCURRING ACROSS SOUTH LAKE CHARLES...MUCH OF WEST LAKE...AND PORTIONS OF SULPHUR ALONG BAYOU D'INDE. INTERSTATE 10 BEGINS TO FLOOD NEAR SULPHUR. PORTIONS OF CARLYSS ARE FLOODED AS WELL.
8.5 ft
WATER LEVELS ARE NEAR THOSE REACHED DURING THE STORM SURGE FROM HURRICANE RITA IN 2005. WIDSPREAD FLOODING OCCURS ALONG THE CALCASIEU RIVER AND THE MANY COULEES AND BAYOUS THAT CONNECT TO THE RIVER. MAJOR FLOODING OCCURS IN LAKE CHARLES...WEST LAKE AND PORTIONS OF SULPHUR ALONG BAYOU D'INDE.
7.8 ft
WIDESPREAD FLOODING BEGINS IN LAKE CHARLES ALONG THE CALCASIEU RIVER SOUTH OF THE SALT WATER BARRIER AND THE MANY COULEES AND BAYOUS THAT CONNECT TO CALCASIEU RIVER. FLOODING BEGINS TO OVERTOP THE SEAWALL IN DOWNTOWN LAKE CHARLES. FLOODING ALSO OCCURS IN WEST LAKE AND PORTIONS OF SULPHUR AND CARLYSS.
5 ft
AROUND 5 FEET...WATER BEGINS TO BACKUP INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF LAKE CHARLES THROUGH THE STORM WATER RUNOFF SYSTEM.
3 ft
SEVERAL ROADS NEAR THE RIVER IN NORTH LAKE CHARLES HAVE WATER OVER THEM. RIVER ROAD IN NORTHERN LAKE CHARLES AND MIMS ROAD IN WEST LAKE HAVE CONSIDERABLE FLOODING. THE I-10 BEACH AT LAKE CHARLES IS FLOODED.
2.5 ft
FLOODING OCCURS AROUND THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF LAKE CHARLES NEAR THE CALCASIEU RIVER AND THE LAKE. SOME OF THE ROADS THAT HAVE WATER ON THEM...ARE RIVER ROAD IN NORTHERN LAKE CHARLES AND MIMS ROAD IN WEST LAKE. THE BOAT LAUNCH AT I-10 IS FLOODED.
2 ft
SOME LOW SPOTS ON RIVER ROAD BEGIN TO FLOOD.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
-1
Navigation for larger ships becomes difficult up the ship channel. Smaller craft may have difficulty navigating outside of the main channel on area lakes.
-2
Larger ships may not be able to navigate the ship channel. Smaller Craft will have difficulty navigating the area lakes outside the main channel.
What happens as water levels drop, per the National Weather Service.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 12, 2008 | 9.5 ft | — |
| Sep 12, 2008 | 9.5 ft | — |
| Sep 23, 2005 | 8.5 ft | — |
| Sep 23, 2005 | 8.5 ft | — |
| Aug 30, 2017 | 4.93 ft | — |
About This Gauge
NWS LID
LCLL1
River
Tide Station (LCH)
County
Calcasieu, LA
Coordinates
30.2236°N, 93.2217°W
Get Flood Alerts for Tide Station (LCH)
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Tide Station (LCH) at Lake Charles?
The Tide Station (LCH) at Lake Charles gauge is maintained by USGS and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Tide Station (LCH) at Lake Charles?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Tide Station (LCH) at Lake Charles is 3 feet. Action stage begins at 2.34 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 4 feet, and major flooding at 6 feet.
How do I get alerts when Tide Station (LCH) rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Tide Station (LCH) at Lake Charles to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Tide Station (LCH) at Lake Charles gauge located?
The gauge is located in Calcasieu County, Louisiana at coordinates 30.2236°N, 93.2217°W. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Tide Station (LCH)
On This River
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: National Ocean Service
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.