Dallas is starting today on the steamy side, and the atmosphere is already gearing up for trouble later tonight. Love Field reported about 72°F and muggy conditions as of 5:35 a.m. CST, with strong southerly winds and gusts observed roughly between 45 and 65 mph. The National Weather Service is calling for highs near 79°F today with a growing chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Late afternoon and evening storms could become severe in spots, especially near and north of the I-35 and I-20 corridors.
Afternoon And Evening Severe Threat
Storm coverage will ramp up after midday with a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms, then really get going during the 5 p.m. to midnight window this evening. The atmosphere will be unstable enough that a few storms could produce large hail up to 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter and damaging wind gusts up to about 60 mph, according to the NWS Fort Worth. Spotter activation may be requested across parts of North and Central Texas this afternoon and evening.
Commute And Airport Impacts
Southerly winds this afternoon will keep things blustery and could make high-profile vehicles feel wobbly on bridges and open roads, with gusts of 25 to 30 mph in exposed spots even outside any thunderstorms. If you have evening plans, build in some extra travel time, since localized downpours and brief damaging gusts could slow traffic and cause short power outages.
Weekend Outlook
The active pattern sticks around into Friday and the weekend, when multiple rounds of thunderstorms could bring more widespread severe weather and pockets of heavy rain capable of localized flash flooding. Some guidance hints at the potential for higher rainfall totals in spots if storms train over the same areas, so it is worth keeping an eye on updated forecasts. Temperatures are expected to stay warmer than normal through early next week.
