Record high temperatures are expected to impact the North Texas region this week.
These unseasonably high temperatures come just weeks after a historic arctic storm struck the United States, dropping Texas temperatures into the teens and freezing the nation’s northern section.
For Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Fort Worth forecast expected highs in the 70s and lower 80s across the region. The agency said these temperatures would be 15 to 25 degrees above normal for this time of year.
The former record highs for the area on January 10 were 79 degrees for DFW in 1995 and 2017 and 81 for Waco in 2017. A temperature of 80 degrees at DFW Airport broke the record at 1:27 p.m. Tuesday, NWS reported.
The NWS told The Dallas Express that the normal highs for this time of year reach the mid to upper 50s.
“The storm systems have generally been staying to our west and north, which kind of leaves us under high pressure,” said Jason Dunn with NWS.
“And when our winds become a little more westerly like they will be today and tomorrow, that’s really what allows us to warm up,” he continued.
The NWS also expected a risk of fires across the state due to drier grass, with the possible exception being in the eastern parts.
“Anytime we get well above normal temperatures — and these kinds of west/southwest winds are gusty in those dry grasses like that — it’s a lot easier to start grass fires and things like that,” explained Dunn.
A cold front is expected to drop temperatures down to normal on Wednesday. However, temperatures are expected to rise again into the 70s over the weekend.
