Summer rain is ‘leaning below’ normal for North Texas. Here’s what that means
North Texas has seen sporadic rainfall this summer along with hot and sunny weather.
Dallas-Fort Worth has yet to reach 100 degrees thus far this year, but there have been a few days with temperatures in the mid-90s. As of July 1, the warmest temperatures recorded this year are 95 degrees on May 25, June 8 and June 20.
The Metroplex has seen several days of rainy weather this summer, with June’s overall precipitation total at 2.2 inches, according to the National Weather Service Fort Worth. The normal precipitation total for June is 3.7 inches.
Rain chances will continue this week, including on the Fourth of July. With one month of summer in the rear view, how much more precipitation can North Texans expect over July and August?
Let’s take a look.
How much rain will North Texas have in July?
The normal precipitation total for the Metroplex in July is 2.08 inches, per NWS data.
On Tuesday, July 1, the NWS’ record-keeping station at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport recorded trace amounts of rainfall, which is any quantity below 0.01 inches. Additional rainfall may be recorded this week as storms roll over the region.
Looking ahead for the entire month of July, the Climate Prediction Center is showing that North Texas is “leaning below” normal precipitation totals for the month.
The Climate Prediction Model, which was issued on June 30, shows that most of North, Central and South Texas are all expecting below-normal precipitation totals in July.
West Texas and the Panhandle are shown to have equal chances of precipitation this month, while areas around El Paso could see above normal rainfall.
It may sound worrisome, but “leaning below” does not mean North Texas will be bone-dry in July. Instead, it could mean that precipitation is leaning below what the normal total is, which is 2.08 inches for the month.
How much rain will North Texas have in August?
The normal precipitation total for the Metroplex in August is 2.18 inches, per NWS data.
There’s not a one-month precipitation outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for August just yet. That will likely come toward the end of July. There is, however, a three-month outlook that is valid from July to September.
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The three-month outlook, which was issued on June 19, shows that North Texas has equal chances for precipitation from July through September.
While this is a snapshot of how things are expected to look in the future, a one month outlook and subsequent weeks’ and days’ forecast will give a better look at what to expect as the date grows near, according to the NWS.
As of now, North Texas is expected to have equal chances for rainfall in August, which could be around the 2.18-inch normal monthly total.
How do previous years compare?
Here’s a look at rainfall totals over the summer months over the last five years, per NWS data.
June
- 2025- 2.2 inches
- 2024- 3.67 inches
- 2023- 0.78 inch
- 2022- 2.64 inches
- 2021- 2.15 inches
- 2020- 5.35 inches
July
- 2024- 2.55 inches
- 2023- 0.47 inch
- 2022- Trace amounts, less than 0.01 inch
- 2021- 1.50 inches
- 2020- 2.31 inches
August
- 2024- 0.41 inch
- 2023- Trace amounts, less than 0.01 inch
- 2022- 10.68 inches
- 2021- 4.82 inches
- 2020- 1.28 inches
