North Texas’ dry August is about to get even hotter.
The National Weather Service forecasts DFW International Airport to reach at least 100 degrees every day from Monday through Sunday, with no rain in the point forecast. The agency projects highs of 100 Monday and Tuesday, 101 Wednesday, 102 Thursday, 101 Friday and Saturday, and 102 Sunday.
The heat follows a dry start to August at DFW. Through August 9, the airport had recorded only a trace of rain, compared with 0.54 inches normally measured by that point in the month, according to NWS climate data.
Hot, dry and increasingly windy
The NWS expects the pattern to persist across North and Central Texas. Forecasters said a very isolated 10-20% chance of storms exists Monday afternoon and evening, mainly south of Interstate 20, with the greatest chance south of U.S. 84 and east of Interstate 35. At DFW Airport itself, the seven-day forecast remains sunny or clear through Sunday.
From Tuesday onward, the NWS forecast discussion lists no rain chances. South and southwesterly winds are expected to strengthen later in the week, with sustained speeds of 15-20 mph and gusts of 25-35 mph possible. Afternoon humidity could fall to 25-40%, increasing the fire-weather threat across North and Central Texas.
Thursday could bring the harshest combination of heat and dryness. DFW Airport is forecast to reach 102 degrees, while the NWS says Thursday may be the driest day of the week farther west, where relative humidity could dip into the 18-25% range.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, an early-August front offered only a brief break from the heat before triple-digit temperatures returned.
Dry spell, but not drought
The lack of August rain does not mean Dallas-Fort Worth is currently in drought.
The latest federal drought data show 0% of Dallas County and 0% of Tarrant County in drought, with neither county even classified as abnormally dry. DFW also remains 3.11 inches above normal for rainfall since June 1 after receiving 8.07 inches in June.
Still, the immediate trend is hot and dry. The NWS says the average last 100-degree day of the year at DFW is August 27, meaning triple-digit heat in mid-August is not unusual. This week’s forecast, however, offers no break from the century mark and no measurable rain through Sunday.