Last Friday, June 23, 2017, DFW Airport’s high temperature hit 100°F for the first time this summer, thanks to compressional warming ahead of a rather strong late season cold front. This front was responsible for the overnight intense convection that occurred Friday night. By the end of the day Saturday, June 24, 2017, DFW broke a 100 year rainfall record. 3.84 inches of rain officially fell yesterday shattering the old record of 1.76 inches set in 1917. This brings the monthly June total of rainfall for 2017 to 7.93 inches.
A COOL START TO MAY 24, 2017 AROUND THE AREA
Some of the coldest temperatures (so late in the month of May) in many years recorded across the area this morning (May 24, 2017). Officially, no record was broken at DFW Airport. The record still stands at 54°F set in 1940. The official low this morning was 58°F at DFW Airport. Below are some of the low temperatures around the forecast area this morning:
Granbury: 49°F
Decatur: 50°F
Denton: 50°F
Dallas: 56°F
Arlington: 55°F
Fort Worth: 55°F
DFW Airport: 58°F (official)
We probably will not see readings again this cool until next fall!
RECORD HIGH SET YESTERDAY, MARCH 20, 2017 AT DFW AIRPORT
A record high of 92°F was set yesterday at DFW Airport. This breaks the old record of 91°F set in 1932. The record for today, March 21st, is 100°F and will not be achieved as highs are forecasted to stay about like yesterday around 90°F.
REMINDER: WE SPRING FORWARD ONE HOUR THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017
A reminder that we spring forward one hour this Sunday, March 12, 2017 as Central Daylight-Savings Time begins and Central Standard Time ends. So remember to set your clocks ahead one hour.
IT’S OFFICIAL – 2016-2017 HOTTEST WINTER ON RECORD FOR DFW
Now that meteorological winter has ended (December through February), it is official that 2016-2017 is the hottest winter on record for DFW with an average temperature of 53.8°F.
February 2017 is also the hottest February on record for DFW with an average temperature of 60.6°F some 10.7°F above normal.
In addition, the winter of 2016-2017 also set a record of 80°F+ degree days in a given winter with 14 days of temperatures at or above 80°F.
Technically, we can still experience freezing temperatures through mid April, but so far 2016-2017 has the lowest number of recorded freezes in a cold season with only 11 days. Freezes are actually measured from October through April. This is 3 days fewer than the lowest prior record of 14 freezes set in several winters.
Below are the top five years of the above records:
Top 5 Hottest Winters:
- 2016-2017 – 53.8°F
- 1999-2000 – 53.1°F
- 1906-1907 – 52.9°F
- 1951-1952 – 52.8°F
- 1931-1932 – 52.0°F
Top 5 Hottest Februarys:
- 2017 – 60.6°F
- 1976 – 58.4°F
- 1930 – 57.6°F
- 2000 – 57.3°F
- 1932 – 56.8°F
Top 5 Winters with the Most 80+ Degree Days
- 2016-2017 – 14 days
- 2005-2006 – 10 days
- 1908-1909 – 10 days
- 1995-1996 – 9 days
- 1951-1952 – 8 days
Top 5 Fewest 32-Degree Days in a Cold Season:
- 2016-2017 – 11 freezes*
- 2011-2012 – 14 freezes
- 1999-2000 – 14 freezes
- 1931-32 – 14 freezes
- 1930-1931 -14 freezes
*Could still change as we can technically still reach freezing until about mid-April.
DFW SETS ANOTHER RECORD HIGH YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017 / 2017 HOTTEST FEBRUARY / 2016-17 HOTTEST WINTER
DFW high temperature yesterday, officially at DFW Airport, was 88°F. This breaks the old record of 86°F set in 1933.
This also adds to the record number of 80+ degree days set in any winter. 2016-2017 is the winter with the most 80+ degree days currently at 12. The old record was 10 set in the 2005-2006 and 1908-1909 winter seasons.
*February, with only 4 days left in the month, is on target to be the hottest February in DFW history with an average mean temperature so far of 60.7°F. This shatters the old record of 58.4°F set in 1976.
*The winter of 2016-2017 is also set to be the hottest winter on record for DFW (as measured December 1st through February 28th) with a mean average temperature of 53.9°F. This breaks the old record of 53.1°F set in the 1999-2000 winter.
* Given the forecast through the end of February, these statistics will likely hold, but the final averages may change slightly.
RECORD HIGH TIED YESTERDAY JANUARY 10, 2017 AT DFW
The record of 79°F set in 1995 was tied yesterday, January 10, 2017, at DFW Airport. The high temperature reached 79°F yesterday afternoon, despite a weak cold front moving through the area. That front will retreat north today putting us back in the warm sector again today. High temperatures today will be flirting in record territory. The record for January 11th is 83°F set in 1911, and the forecasted high is 81°F.
COLDEST SINCE 2011 FOR DFW THIS PAST WEEKEND
This past weekend’s Arctic air outbreak left us the coldest DFW has been since 2011. The low temperature of 14°F on Saturday, January 7, 2017 was the coldest since February 2, 2011 when the mercury hit 13°F. The high temperature of 27°F on Friday, January 6, 2017 was a record low maximum temperature for that date which broke the old record low maximum temperature of 29°F set in 1970. The cold air over the weekend was the coldest outbreak of cold air for the nation as a whole since 1996. There was 0.10 of an inch of snowfall officially recorded at DFW Airport on Friday, January 6, 2017, nearly all of which remained on the ground on Saturday, January 7, 2017.
CHRISTMAS 2016 THE HOTTEST CHRISTMAS ON RECORD AT DFW
Christmas 2016 set a new record high of 80°F, breaking the old record of 78°F set in 1934 and 1922. This 80°F reading also makes it the hottest Christmas in weather recorded history for Dallas/Fort Worth.
DFW HEADED BACK TO THE DEEP FREEZE THIS WEEKEND
While it feels cold outside this morning with temperatures in the 30s, wind, and patchy areas of drizzle, it will be nothing compared to what is coming this weekend. Today will struggle to warm under mostly cloudy skies with temperatures topping out in the mid 40s. A rapid warm-up will commence tonight as an intense warm air advection pattern unfolds out ahead of the next trough. Temperatures will actually start out colder and warm steadily through the night. Actual lows for tomorrow will probably occur closer to midnight than sunrise.
Warming will continue to take place through tomorrow as temperatures soar into the 70s. This will be short lived as powerful Arctic air mass is dislodged and plunges deep into Texas on Saturday. Timing of the front is somewhat hard to ascertain as these Arctic air masses always move faster than guidance. The current thinking is that the front will arrive sometime around midday Saturday. Temperatures should be able to warm into the 60s ahead of the boundary, possibly warmer if the front’s timing is later. Then there should be a drastic temperature drop behind the front. Guidance continues to trend colder with this air mass, and DFW Weather now is forecasting lows in the teens both Sunday and Monday mornings. Highs will struggle to get out of the 20s on Sunday, if at all, even under full insolation. It will also be windy with gusts to 35 mph possible. This will be put wind chill values in the single digits Sunday morning with wind chill values close to zero or below near the Red River. Wind chill values will remain in the single digits and teens throughout all of Sunday.
On Monday, temps will struggle to reach freezing, if at all, again making for another very cold day. Another cold night can be expected on Tuesday with morning temps bottoming out in the lower 20s once again.
Regarding the potential for wintry precipitation, it is looking much too dry at the surface and in the dendritic growth zone for snow crystal production. However, with these cold air masses, we cannot entirely rule out some patchy freezing drizzle or a flurry or two, but nothing significant. This is mostly likely to occur Saturday night early Sunday morning before the moisture is really scoured out, though most will see nothing.
Residents of the DFW area should prepare now for a prolonged period of subfreezing temperatures by winterizing their homes (wrapping pipes) and taking necessary precautions for outdoor animals and sensitive plants.