Dallas-Fort Worth, be ready to sweat. ‘Heat dome’ is on its way to Texas. But what is it?

North Texas will get a trial run of summer temperatures this week with heat index values topping 105 degrees.

The Metroplex is on the edge of a high pressure system or “heat dome” that’s moving through South Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California. The system is coming from Mexico, where high temperatures have killed at least 48 people, according to the New York Times.

Since the Metroplex is on the edge of the system, it’s complicated to predict if it will be hot or stormy in the region or both, said Juan Hernandez, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office.

That’s why the Metroplex has rain chances in the forecast for both Monday and Tuesday, with hot temperatures to boot, Hernandez said. Storms are in the forecast for Monday afternoon and evening, followed by overnight Tuesday.

Temperatures all week will be in the low to mid 90s and due to high humidity, heat index values are expected to be well over triple digits. Heat index is described as the “feels like” temperature.

“The rain chances are there nonetheless, even though we’re expecting hot temperatures,” Hernandez said.

How warm will it be in North Texas this week?

Here’s a breakdown from the NWS on just how hot it will be in North Texas this week:

• Tuesday- High temperatures: 88-97 degrees. Heat index: 97-109 degrees.
• Wednesday- High temperatures: 87-95 degrees. Heat index: 96-106 degrees.
• Thursday- High temperatures: 90-96 degrees. Heat index: 99-106 degrees.
• Friday- High temperatures: 89-95 degrees. Heat index: 95-103 degrees.

Has North Texas crossed 100 degree yet?

Nope, the hottest temperature recorded by the NWS in North Texas thus far is 98 degrees on May 26.

On average, North Texas doesn’t register its first triple digit day until July 1, per the NWS. The Metroplex has certainly recorded triple digits before then, but on average, that’s when it occurs.

Early tracking for the next few months show that it’s going to be a warm summer for North Texas with “above normal” temperatures. Although above normal temperatures doesn’t always equate to extreme heat.

“Above normal doesn’t necessarily mean extreme heat,” NWS meteorologist Patricia Sanchez told the Star-Telegram in May. “It could be a couple degrees more.”

This story was originally published June 3, 2024 at 2:30 PM.

Brayden Garcia

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Brayden Garcia is a service journalism reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Brayden mainly writes about weather and all things Taylor Sheridan-related.