As temperatures in North Texas hit triple digits, heat-related illness is also on the rise. Because last year’s summer was unusually mild, the outlook for heat exhaustion, heatstroke and similar conditions this year could be more severe.
Already, Dallas County has recorded more heat-related illness compared to the same time last year, data shows. In June, the county had 283 cases, compared with 238 in June 2025.
Dr. Philip Huang, Dallas County Health and Human Services director, said current rates are “pretty comparable” with previous years.
Most heat-related illness happens between July and September each year as temperatures peak, data shows. Dallas County had more than 700 cases during those months in 2025 and more than 1,700 in 2023.
Heat-related illness cases also account for a slightly higher share of ER visits this summer, in both Dallas and Tarrant counties, compared to 2025.
The share of emergency room visits due to heat-related illness helps public health officials recognize whether extreme heat has an outsized impact among all emergencies, said Dr. Brian Byrd, Tarrant County Public Health director. That can be helpful during an influx of visitors for big events like the World Cup.
Despite a bump in ER visits coinciding with the games, the uptick hasn’t correlated strongly with heat-related illness, Byrd said.
“So far, everyone’s doing a really nice job of staying cool,” he said.
With months of hot weather left in the year, public health officials encourage residents to stay vigilant by: