Fort Worth could reach 100 degrees this week. Here’s why it’s happening so early
Temperatures could reach triple digits this week in North Texas.
Conditions will be warm and sunny on Monday, May 12, as temperatures stick around the low 80s, according to the National Weather Service Fort Worth. Come Tuesday, May 13, temperatures will warm up to the mid-90s.
The main day to watch this week will be Wednesday, May 14, as temperatures will be right around 100 degrees.
If the Metroplex reaches triple digits Wednesday, it will be a record for May 14, NWS meteorologist Hunter Reeves said. As of now, the hottest temperature ever recorded on the day was 95 degrees in 1955.
Why is 100 degrees in the forecast already?
The main driving force for the triple-digit chance this week is high pressure.
A high pressure system is warming up the region this week and will be directly overhead Wednesday, Reeves said. Wednesday will also have full sun coverage and strong southwesterly winds.
Those factors will add up to the hot day, before temperatures come down later in the week.
“Just one of those quick fly by hot days,” Reeves said.
The Metroplex’s next weather system will start moving into region towards the end of the week and push hot temperatures south.
Highs on Thursday, May 15, will be in the low 90s, followed by mid-90s on Friday, May 16. Low storm chances are expected to return this weekend as temperatures stick around the low 90s.
Does 100 degrees this week mean a hotter summer?
No, not necessarily.
It’s hard to use a single day to extrapolate what the rest of the summer will look like, Reeves said. Triple digit days can happen in several months throughout the year.
The Climate Prediction Center’s models are showing that above normal temperatures are in favor over the next couple weeks, Reeves said.
However, above normal doesn’t always equate to extreme heat and could mean that temperatures are only a few degrees more than average. The normal maximum daily temperature for much of May is in the low to upper 80s, according to NWS climate data.
Has North Texas recorded 100 degrees in May before?
Yes, 100 degrees has been recorded several times in May throughout history.
- May 4, 1947- 100 degrees
- May 6, 1998- 100 degrees
- May 30, 1998- 100 degrees
- May 31, 1998- 101 degrees
- May 27, 1928- 103 degrees
- May 28, 1927- 107 degrees
- May 30, 1985- 103 degrees
- May 31, 1985- 101 degrees
- May 31, 1911- 103 degrees
