Texas Wildfire Smoke & Fire Maps

Texas Wildfire Season: A Call for Vigilance As spring approaches, the risk of wildfires in Texas intensifies. Prolonged drought conditions, dry vegetation, and unpredictable wind patterns create a dangerous environment for fires. The recent wildfire season has already seen concerning blazes, including the still-burning Smokehouse Creek Fire in the Panhandle. It’s crucial to be aware … Read more

Texas Rainfall Amounts 24 to 72 Hours

Severe Weather Map | Dallas Forecast Texas Mesonet data for 24 to 72 hour precipitation: Texas rainfall maps for 24 to 72 hours are a valuable tool for anyone who wants to stay informed about upcoming weather conditions and make informed decisions about their activities. Areas in Texas with the Most Rain: Areas in Texas … Read more

Dallas – Fort Worth – DFW Area School Closings

The list updates with each new closure added. If you have to go to work or school, despite potentially dangerous road conditions, please drive with caution. Leave plenty of room between your car and the car in front of you if the roads are wet or potentially icy. A few pages on our website that … Read more

Weather Phobias – Personal Stories of Storm Anxiety

Now more than ever, many people find themselves wrestling with anxiety. Having anxiety issues is more than just feeling a little nervous or anxious. Anxiety and panic attacks can make a person feel like the world will crush them, or like they might implode. For many, simply calming down is not an option. Learning to … Read more

February 2018 was the Wettest on Record at DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth)

Radar-estimated rainfall totals for Dallas Fort Worth on February 28, 2018 showing swath of 2 to 5 inches of rain

…Daily rainfall record shattered at DFW on the 28th… …Also the most rainfall ever recorded on ANY day in February… …February 2018 is now the wettest on record for DFW… A heavy rain event on the last day of the month pushed monthly rainfall totals to record levels at DFW Airport in the Dallas/Fort Worth … Read more

Rowlett continues fundraising for Christmas Tornado Relief

The City of Rowlett, Texas, continues their efforts to raise money for those affected by the EF-4 tornado that impacted the area on December 26th, 2015. Rowlett Strong, the non-profit organization involved, has earned a Gold Participant status from the GuideStar non-profit organization. GuideStar is one of the world’s largest source of non-profit information.  Rowlett … Read more

Widespread frost and freeze expected across North Texas Friday Night

frost and freezing temperatures likely over much of North Texas this upcoming Friday night (10/27/17).

Dallas/Fort Worth/North Texas Forecast Summary [Wednesday 10/25] ➤ As I discussed in my previous DFW forecast posted on Monday, the coldest air so far this season will overspread North Texas on Friday. ➤ Temperatures will be in the upper 80s to near 90º tomorrow (Thursday, October 26) thanks to downslope/compressional warming with southwest winds. ➤ … Read more

Dallas Texas Coldest airmass so far this season this Friday

Forecast temperature anomaly for Saturday morning October 28, 2017

Forecast Discussion for DFW/North Texas [Posted on Monday 10/23/17] …Coolest air so far this season arrives Friday… ➤ Following highs in the low-mid 80s today, a weak cold front tonight will bring temperatures back down to seasonal levels tomorrow and Wednesday. ➤ A bit warmer on Thursday, ahead of the next cold front, with temperatures … Read more

Remembering the December 26th, 2015, North Texas Tornado Outbreak

The day after Christmas Day in 2015, an outbreak of tornadoes across the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and northern Texas. There were a total of 12 confirmed tornadoes, including one violent tornado that was rated an EF-4 with estimated winds to 180mph that devastated the communities of Garland and Rowlett as it crossed Interstate 30. Below … Read more

Rowlett to Collect Gifts for Tornado Affected Children

Last year on December 26th, the day after Christmas Day, an outbreak of tornadoes occurred near the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, metroplex. The area of Rowlett was hit the hardest by a violent EF-4 tornado. Many families lost everything as houses were completely destroyed, and donations for gifts and toys are being accepted for affected children. … Read more

DFW: Cold front to bring cooler temps to N. Texas Saturday 9/10

These forecast updates can also be found on our Facebook page.  I have compiled them here for easy access as we track the first fall cold front, very early for North Texas, if this verifies.   Note: Scroll down the page to see previous updates dating back to 8/27… Follow Up [Monday 9/12] The following … Read more

July 4th 2016 heavy rainfall in DFW Metroplex shattered records

Interesting rainfall tidbits from the deluge in the Metroplex on Monday 7/4/16 The total rainfall at DFW Airport on the 4th of July 2016 was 3.20″ This shattered the daily record for 7/4 by 141% (previous record: 1.31″ in 2006) Compared with the entire month of July, as well as June + July… It ranked … Read more

DFW Heat Index & the Heat Advisory Criteria for North Texas

Currently at Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) The temperature is: DFW’s heat index is: °F Current Conditions Around N. TX How many days until fall? It’s pretty much a given that summertime in North Texas will be hot. However, there is a fine line between “hot” and dangerously hot. In other words, “only” a few degrees can … Read more

Update on thunderstorm potential for tonight (Tuesday 4/26)

9 am Tuesday 4/26 partial surface analysis

The Result [Tuesday 4/26 8:17 pm] ➡︎ NOTE: Read the original update from Monday 4/25. ***Quasi-Linear Convective System Has Evolved as Expected*** ***Moving toward DFW with winds of 65+ mph*** Winds of 65+ mph detected within the bowing segments… These will arrive in the metroplex over the next two hours… Some wind damage/power outages possible… … Read more

DFW: Severe thunderstorms possible Tuesday Evening 4/26

Forecast sounding for Fort Worth valid 7pm CDT April 26, 2016

I typically do not share model data because they can be very complex. I do want to show one of the state-of-the-art programs that I use in my operations to analyze model-simulated soundings. The models do not automatically compute these data; the additional software turns the raw output into meaningful information. At least one of … Read more

January will end with springlike temperatures in North Texas

Forecast Update [Saturday 1/30 7:45 am] ***80º today ~ 25 deg above normal*** ***Wind gusts to 40 mph late afternoon/tonight*** This is an update to the original forecast from Monday 1/25 — The only change is to raise high temperatures for today as I mentioned would be possible in the Monday forecast update. The springlike … Read more

DFW: 2015 is the wettest year on record for Dallas/Fort Worth

Rainfall data for 2015 at DFW and the 117 year trend

Rainfall Records for DFW (Since Records Began) [year]: Rainfall so far this year DFW Records Summary: 2015 is the wettest year on record (rainfall in 2015) Wettest November on record The most rain ever recorded on any day in November (11/27/15) The greatest 2-day total ever recorded within the 215 days between September 23 and … Read more

Heavy rain event for North Texas/DFW Thanksgiving – Saturday 11/28

Outcome Update #2 Posted Sunday 11/29/15 at Noon The rainfall configuration and amounts lined up very well with my forecasts leading up to this event (documented further down this page).  Records were set, as predicted, and 2015 will go down as the wettest year on record.  Check out our real-time rainfall tally to see how … Read more

First freeze of the 2015 season expected at DFW / North Texas

How does the first freeze of 2015 compare with normal (climatology)? ❄️  The average first freeze at DFW is November 22.  Therefore, this year’s freeze was right on schedule, based on the current 30-year average (1981-2010). Other Freeze Statistics for DFW: Average first freeze: November 22 Average last freeze: March 13 Earliest freeze on record: … Read more

Heavy Rain Event for North Texas on Friday 10/30

Final Rainfall Amounts [Posted Saturday 10/31 at 1:25 pm] The NWS in Fort Worth prepared this graphic depicting storm total rainfall amounts. Using the legend, I drew the 2-inch line. Clearly, most of the area saw 2 to 4 inches, but there was an area of 4 to 7 inches in Tarrant, Dallas, Johnson, and … Read more

Predicted Heavy Rain Event is Underway; DFW Rainfall Record Broken

➡︎ Update History: Initial Forecast (Sunday 10/18) & Updates 2 through 5 | Update #6 | Update #7 Forecast Verification and Records Tied or Broken ◙  Record #1 [Broken] 2.58 inches of rain at DFW on Thursday 10/22 shattered the previous record for the date (2.19″) set in 1908. ◙  Record #2 [Broken] 3.55 inches … Read more

Heavy Rain Event for N. Texas this weekend (10/22 – 10/24)

  ➡︎  Update History:  Initial Forecast (Sunday 10/18) | Update #2 | Update #3 | Update #4 | Results/Records Broken  Latest Forecasts (Starting at Update #6 on Friday 10/23) Continued Here Forecast Verification and Records Tied or Broken ◙  Record #1 [Broken] 2.58 inches of rain at DFW on Thursday 10/22 shattered the previous record … Read more

DFW: Strong August Cold Front On Track For N. TX Wed (8/19/15)

Summary & Forecast Verification [Thursday 8/20/15 8 pm] ***Today Among Our Coldest August Days on Record*** A few days ago, I predicted that our strongest cold front in 3 months would move through North Texas (below). The forecast worked out perfectly (and to the contrary of the armchair meteorologists who declared otherwise on the day … Read more

May 2015: DFW’s Wettest May on Record

May 2015 was an exhausting month for forecasters in Oklahoma and Texas. One storm system after another brought enormous rainfall and significant flooding to many areas.  I will try to post some dynamics/thermodynamics analyses or a general recap of each individual storm system in a future addendum to this post.  For now, I wanted to … Read more