Marine forecast
Vermilion and West Cote Blanche Bays, LA
- current wind
- 11 kt ESE
- Gusts
- 13 kt
- Air
- 83°F
- Water
- 86°F
- 72-hr peak
- 13 kt
Observed Tue 1:54 PM | GMZ435
- Gusts now
- 13 kt
- Air
- 83°F
- Water
- 86°F
- 72-hr peak
- 13 kt
In brief
At 1:54 pm CDT on Oct 13, 2026, NDBC station FRWL1 (Freshwater Canal Locks, LA, 23 miles away) measured wind from the ESE at 11 kt, gusting to 13 kt. The NWS forecast for Vermilion and West Cote Blanche Bays, LA issued at 3:09 am CDT on Oct 13, 2026 reads, for today: “Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters light chop.”
Source: National Weather Service Lake Charles LA forecast; NDBC observations
Wind forecast · ktPeak 13 kt
NWS marine forecast
| Period | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Today | Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters light chop. |
| Tonight | Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters light chop. |
| Wednesday | Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters light chop. |
| Wednesday Night | Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters light chop. |
| Thursday | Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters light chop. |
| Thursday Night | Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming east after midnight. Bay waters light chop. |
| Friday | Northeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters light chop. |
| Friday Night | Northeast winds 20 to 25 knots, becoming north 25 to 30 knots after midnight. Bay waters extremely rough. |
| Saturday | Northeast winds 25 to 30 knots, diminishing to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Bay waters extremely rough. |
| Saturday Night | Northeast winds 10 to 15 knots. Bay waters choppy. |
Issued Tue 3:09 AM by Lake Charles LA (product CWFLCH).
Recent buoy conditions
| Time | Wind | Gust | Seas | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1:54 PM | 11 kt ESE | 13 kt | — | 86°F |
| Tue 12:54 PM | 10 kt ESE | 14 kt | — | 86°F |
| Tue 11:54 AM | 11 kt E | 14 kt | — | 86°F |
| Tue 10:54 AM | 12 kt E | 14 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 9:54 AM | 8 kt ESE | 13 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 8:54 AM | 6 kt ESE | 9 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 7:54 AM | 6 kt ESE | 8 kt | — | 84°F |
| Tue 6:54 AM | 5 kt ESE | 6 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 5:54 AM | 5 kt ESE | 7 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 4:54 AM | 5 kt ESE | 7 kt | — | 85°F |
| Tue 3:54 AM | 5 kt ESE | 8 kt | — | 86°F |
| Tue 2:54 AM | 6 kt ESE | 8 kt | — | 86°F |
Observed Tue 1:54 PM at NDBC buoy FRWL1 (Freshwater Canal Locks, LA), 22.6 miles away.
Frequently asked questions
What is the marine forecast for Vermilion and West Cote Blanche Bays today?
Today: Southeast winds 5 to 10 knots. Bay waters light chop.
Is there a small craft advisory for Vermilion and West Cote Blanche Bays?
No advisories, warnings or watches are in effect for NWS zone GMZ435 as of the last update on this page. Advisories can be issued at any time; check the current bulletin before leaving the dock.
What is the water temperature at Vermilion and West Cote Blanche Bays?
The nearest buoy read 86°F (30°C) at Tue 1:54 PM. Sea surface temperature at a single buoy can differ by several degrees from the water at a beach or in a shallow bay nearby.
What do the wind speeds in knots mean?
One knot is 1.15 mph. The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory for sustained winds of roughly 22–33 knots or hazardous seas, a gale warning at 34–47 knots, and a storm warning at 48 knots and above. Exact advisory thresholds vary by forecast office and by water body — a bay reaches dangerous chop at a lower wind speed than open ocean.
Where does this forecast come from?
The forecast text is the National Weather Service's own marine bulletin for zone GMZ435, issued by Lake Charles LA, reproduced in full. The wind and seas charts are drawn from the NWS gridded forecast for a point inside the zone. Observations come from the nearest reporting NDBC buoy. We are not affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Forecast: NOAA/NWS product CWFLCH, issued Tue 3:09 AM. Observations: NOAA National Data Buoy Center station FRWL1, read Tue 1:54 PM. Retrieved Oct 13, 2:42 PM. Conditions offshore change faster than any page can be rebuilt, so check the current NWS bulletin and your own instruments before going out.