This article is part of our Moving to Dallas guide.
Last updated October 18, 2026
Dallas weather is hot for a long stretch of the year, mild most of the winter, and stormy in spring. At DFW Airport, the 1991–2020 normal high is 95.8°F in August and 56.5°F in January, and the airport averages about 37 inches of rain a year. A normal year brings about 106 days of 90°F or hotter, about 20 days of 100°F or hotter, and about 29 nights at or below freezing. The bigger thing to plan for is the severe weather: hail, tornadoes, flash floods and the odd ice storm.
What is Dallas weather like by month?
These are the official 1991–2020 normals for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, published by NOAA and the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain (in.) | Days 100°F+ | Nights 32°F or below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56.5°F | 36.1°F | 2.53 | 0 | 10.6 |
| February | 60.9°F | 40.1°F | 2.76 | 0 | 6.2 |
| March | 68.6°F | 47.8°F | 3.30 | 0 | 1.9 |
| April | 76.1°F | 55.2°F | 3.22 | Rare | Rare |
| May | 83.6°F | 64.5°F | 4.78 | 0.1 | 0 |
| June | 91.5°F | 72.2°F | 3.70 | 1.6 | 0 |
| July | 95.6°F | 75.8°F | 2.08 | 7.4 | 0 |
| August | 95.8°F | 75.7°F | 2.18 | 9.7 | 0 |
| September | 88.6°F | 68.5°F | 2.72 | 1.4 | 0 |
| October | 78.4°F | 57.1°F | 4.37 | 0 | 0.1 |
| November | 66.6°F | 46.2°F | 2.53 | 0 | 2.3 |
| December | 57.9°F | 38.3°F | 2.84 | 0 | 8.1 |
| Year | 76.7°F | 56.5°F | 37.01 | ~20 | 29.2 |
Day counts are averages, so a “1.6” means some Junes have none and some have several. Normal snowfall is 1.6 inches a year. The average first freeze is around November 22 and the average last freeze around March 12.
How hot does a Dallas summer get?
Very hot, and for a long time. Highs reach the 90s by June and often stay there into September. Gulf moisture keeps it humid, and some nights never drop below 80°F. The all-time DFW record is 113°F, set in June 1980.
2026 was a hard summer. DFW hit 106°F three times, twice in July and again on August 17, and the National Weather Service put Dallas and Tarrant counties under an Extreme Heat Warning on August 18. By September 18, DFW had logged 52 days of 100°F or hotter, tied with 1954 for fifth-most on record. Only 2011 (71), 1980 (69), 1998 (56) and 2023 (55) had more. September alone averaged a high of 98°F, with 15 days at 100°F or above and just 0.17 inches of rain.
When the heat index climbs, NWS Fort Worth issues a heat advisory, and for worse heat an Extreme Heat Warning. On those days:
- Move errands and workouts to early morning or after dark.
- Never leave people or pets in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
- Test your apartment’s AC before you sign a lease and ask how fast maintenance answers AC calls in July.
- Budget for higher summer electric bills. Our Dallas cost of living guide covers what to expect.
When is storm season in Dallas, and how bad is it?
Spring is the main storm season, and fall brings a second, smaller round. That is why May (4.78 inches) and October (4.37 inches) are the wettest months. The NWS notes that large hail, damaging wind, flooding and tornadoes hit the Dallas-Fort Worth area nearly every year.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes are not only a spring problem. On December 26, 2015, an EF4 tornado with winds above 166 mph tore through Garland and Rowlett and killed 13 people, most of them on or near I-30 and the George Bush Turnpike. On October 20, 2019, an EF3 tornado with 140 mph winds ran about 16 miles from near Irving through North Dallas to Richardson. No one died, but the Insurance Council of Texas put losses from that night near $1.5 billion, the costliest tornado event in Texas history at the time.
Hail
Hail is the storm most new residents end up paying for. Texas led the country in 2025 with 902 major hail events, meaning stones 1 inch or larger, according to the Insurance Information Institute. State Farm says it paid $1.4 billion in Texas hail claims in 2025, more than in any other state. Cars parked outside take much of the damage, so covered or garage parking is worth a lot here.
Flash floods
Heavy rain falls fast on a lot of pavement. On August 21–22, 2022, DFW Airport recorded 9.19 inches in 24 hours, the second-highest total on record there, including 2.73 inches in 45 minutes. Low roads and underpasses flooded across the area. Never drive into water on a road; it is often deeper and faster than it looks. Texas landlords must also give you a flood disclosure with your lease, which tells you whether the unit is in a floodplain and whether the landlord knows of recent flooding.
Does it snow or freeze in Dallas?
Most winter days are cool and dry, but a few times a year a cold front brings ice. Ice is the real problem, more than snow, because bridges and overpasses glaze over and traffic stops.
- Winter Storm Uri, February 2021: DFW fell to -2°F on February 16, tied for the second-coldest reading on record, and got 5 inches of snow. The ERCOT grid could not keep up, and millions of Texans lost power for days. The state later counted 246 deaths, about two-thirds from hypothermia.
- January 2026: A late-January storm brought sleet, freezing rain and some snow. DFW dropped to 13°F on January 25 and finished the month with 2.4 inches of snow.
When a hard freeze is forecast, drip indoor faucets, open cabinet doors under sinks, and bring pets inside. Ask your property manager where the water shutoff is before you need it.
How do you get weather alerts in Dallas?
Know the two main terms. A tornado watch means tornadoes are possible, so get ready. A tornado warning means one has been seen or picked up on radar, so take shelter now in an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows. In a high-rise, that usually means an inner hallway or stairwell on a lower floor.
Dallas’s outdoor warning sirens are meant for people outside, telling them to get indoors and check the news. The city tests them at noon on the first Wednesday of every month, weather permitting, so a siren then is usually just the test. Indoors, rely on your phone instead: sign up for DallasAlert, the city’s free, opt-in system, at DallasAlert.com or by texting DALLAS to 67283. It sends emergency, advisory and National Weather Service watch and warning alerts for your address by text, call or email.
- Outdoor warning sirens are meant for people outside. Many people do not hear them indoors, so do not rely on them alone.
- Keep Wireless Emergency Alerts on in your phone settings, and add a weather app that pushes NWS warnings.
- Follow NWS Fort Worth (weather.gov/fwd), which covers Dallas, for forecasts and warnings.
- Sign up for local alerts through the City of Dallas and Dallas County emergency management offices.
What insurance and outage prep do Dallas renters need?
Your landlord’s insurance does not cover your things. The Texas Department of Insurance says renters insurance covers your belongings, your liability, and extra living costs if you have to move out after a covered loss, and it costs about $20 a month on average in Texas. Most renters policies do not cover flooding, which needs a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program. Renters insurance also does not cover hail damage to your car. That comes from the comprehensive part of an auto policy, which Texas liability-only coverage does not include. More on leases is in how renting works in Dallas.
Oncor runs the power lines in most of Dallas, even though you buy electricity from a retail provider. In an outage, report it to Oncor, not your provider. You can text OUT to 66267, sign up for MyOncor Alerts, or check the Oncor outage map. Keep a flashlight, phone power bank, a few days of water and food that needs no cooking.
If garage or covered parking matters to you because of hail, our sister site, DallasApartmentBuildings.com, lists Dallas apartment buildings with their amenities so you can narrow your search. Then use our moving to Dallas guide to plan the rest.
Frequently asked questions about weather in Dallas
What is the hottest month in Dallas?
August, by a hair. Its normal high at DFW is 95.8°F, just above July’s 95.6°F, and it averages the most 100°F days, at 9.7.
What is the best time of year to move to Dallas?
Weather-wise, October through early November and March through April are the most comfortable. Moving in July or August means hauling boxes in heat near 100°F.
How much does it snow in Dallas?
Not much. The normal is 1.6 inches a year at DFW, and many winters see none, but ice storms can still shut roads for a day or two.
Does renters insurance cover hail damage to my car?
No. Hail damage to a car falls under comprehensive auto coverage. Renters insurance covers your belongings, including items stolen from your car.
Sources
- Monthly normals: NWS Fort Worth, DFW normals, means and extremes (1991–2020) (accessed October 2026)
- Annual 90°F/100°F days, freezing nights, snowfall: NOAA NCEI, 1991–2020 annual normals, DFW Airport (USW00003927) (accessed October 2026)
- Freeze dates: NWS Fort Worth, DFW freeze records (accessed October 2026)
- Records: NWS Fort Worth, DFW all-time max/min temperatures and top 24-hour rainfall (accessed October 2026)
- Climate overview: NWS Fort Worth, DFW climate narrative (accessed October 2026)
- 2026 heat: FOX 4, Extreme Heat Warning issued as North Texas matches hottest day of 2026 (August 2026)
- 2026 100°F days: Dallas Express, DFW hits 66-day dry streak (September 2026)
- September 2026 and January 2026: NWS Fort Worth, DFW monthly climate summaries (October 2026 and February 2026)
- 2015 tornado: FOX 4, 10 years ago: EF-4 tornado killed 13 people in DFW (December 2025)
- 2019 tornado: NWS Fort Worth, October 20, 2019 tornado survey (October 2019)
- 2019 tornado losses: Spectrum News, North Dallas tornadoes were costliest in Texas history (October 2020)
- Hail: Texas Public Radio, Are hail storms getting worse in Texas? (May 2026)
- Hail claims: State Farm, hail claims in 2025 (April 2026)
- Snow and ice events: NWS Fort Worth, significant snow and ice events (accessed October 2026)
- Uri deaths: Texas Tribune via KSAT, Texas puts final estimate of winter storm death toll at 246 (January 2022)
- Tornado alerts: National Weather Service, tornado watch vs. warning (accessed October 2026)
- Renters insurance: Texas Department of Insurance, renters insurance (accessed October 2026)
- Outages: Oncor, report an outage (accessed October 2026)
Author: Go Big City Team
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