The brief three-day break from triple-digit temperatures in the North Texas region came to an end on Thursday as the mercury climbed to 108 degrees by midafternoon.
The 100+ degree high temperatures are expected to last through the coming weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.
The NWS has issued an excessive heat warning for the region in effect from noon on August 17 until 9 p.m. on August 18.
Juan Hernandez with the NWS in Fort Worth told The Dallas Express that August 18 will likely be the hottest day of the week, with temperatures rising as high as 110 degrees.
“As we go into next week, it looks like we’re going to go into [the] lower hundreds. So 103, 101 as we go into the middle part of next week,” said Hernandez. “But from now until then, we’re going see 105 to 110 each afternoon.”
“It’s dangerous to be outside for a long period of time, especially if you do work outside and you’re doing some sort of strenuous work,” he added.
Hernandez advised North Texans who must work or spend time outdoors to take frequent breaks in the shade and practice heat safety.
Overnight lows for the next seven days will remain in the low to mid-80s, according to the NWS forecast.
In addition to elevated temperatures, the agency expects poor air quality around the DFW metroplex with an elevated risk of wildfires across the region.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone Action Day for Friday.
“Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Friday,” the NWS relayed on its website.
The message encourages drivers to consider carpooling, walking, riding a bike, avoiding drive-through lanes, and keeping their vehicles tuned up in order to avoid worsening the air quality with further ozone pollution.