Dallas/Fort Worth (KDFW) Temperature Market Guide
KDFW • Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
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Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) offers a ForecastEx temperature market in the heart of North Texas. Located in the Blackland Prairie region, DFW experiences extreme summer heat, dramatic cold front passages, and sits in Tornado Alley. Understanding Texas's volatile weather patterns, including the famous "blue northers," is essential for success in this market.
Quick Facts
| Station Code | KDFW |
|---|---|
| Location | Dallas, TX |
| Coordinates | 32.8998°N, 97.0403°W |
| Elevation | 607 ft (185 m) |
| Timezone | CT (America/Chicago) |
| NWS Office | Dallas/Fort Worth (FWD) |
| Resolution Source | NWS CLI Report ↗ |
About the KDFW Weather Station
The KDFW ASOS is located at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, one of the largest airports in the world by land area. At 607 feet elevation, the station sits on the relatively flat North Texas prairies between Dallas and Fort Worth.
The airport's massive expanse of concrete and asphalt contributes to local heating effects, though its suburban location between the two cities means it may experience slightly different conditions than either downtown area.
The airport's massive expanse of concrete and asphalt contributes to local heating effects, though its suburban location between the two cities means it may experience slightly different conditions than either downtown area.
Dallas/Fort Worth Climate & Temperature Patterns
DFW experiences a humid subtropical climate (Koppen: Cfa) with hot summers and mild winters, though cold air outbreaks can bring dramatic temperature drops.
Key Climate Factors:
Summer Heat: DFW is known for intense, prolonged summer heat with highs frequently exceeding 100°F. Extended heat waves lasting weeks are common.
Cold Front Volatility: North Texas sits where polar air masses clash with Gulf moisture. "Blue northers" can drop temperatures 30-50°F in just a few hours, creating dramatic trading opportunities.
Severe Weather: The DFW metroplex is in Tornado Alley and experiences frequent severe thunderstorms, particularly in spring.
Key Climate Factors:
Summer Heat: DFW is known for intense, prolonged summer heat with highs frequently exceeding 100°F. Extended heat waves lasting weeks are common.
Cold Front Volatility: North Texas sits where polar air masses clash with Gulf moisture. "Blue northers" can drop temperatures 30-50°F in just a few hours, creating dramatic trading opportunities.
Severe Weather: The DFW metroplex is in Tornado Alley and experiences frequent severe thunderstorms, particularly in spring.
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Winter (December - February):
Highly variable with temperatures ranging from the 20s°F during arctic outbreaks to the 70s°F during warm spells. Ice storms occasionally paralyze the region when Gulf moisture overruns cold surface air.
Spring (March - May):
Peak severe weather season with potential for tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. Temperatures climb rapidly with potential for both 90°F+ heat and late-season cold fronts.
Summer (June - August):
Hot with average highs in the mid-to-upper 90s°F. 100°F+ days are common, and extended heat waves can last for weeks. High pressure typically dominates.
Fall (September - November):
September remains hot. October brings more variable weather as cold fronts return. The first significant cold spells typically arrive in November.
Highly variable with temperatures ranging from the 20s°F during arctic outbreaks to the 70s°F during warm spells. Ice storms occasionally paralyze the region when Gulf moisture overruns cold surface air.
Spring (March - May):
Peak severe weather season with potential for tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds. Temperatures climb rapidly with potential for both 90°F+ heat and late-season cold fronts.
Summer (June - August):
Hot with average highs in the mid-to-upper 90s°F. 100°F+ days are common, and extended heat waves can last for weeks. High pressure typically dominates.
Fall (September - November):
September remains hot. October brings more variable weather as cold fronts return. The first significant cold spells typically arrive in November.
Dallas-Specific Trading Tips
Track Cold Front Timing: The exact hour of frontal passage determines the daily high. A front arriving in the morning prevents significant heating; one arriving in the evening allows the high to occur first.
Heat Wave Persistence: Dallas heat waves can last for weeks with little relief. Don't assume cooling is coming without strong evidence of pattern change.
Severe Weather Impacts: Strong thunderstorms can bring rapid temperature drops via outflow boundaries. Watch for storms that could affect the airport.
Blue Norther Warning Signs: Watch for strong pressure rises and wind shifts indicating an approaching cold front.
Heat Wave Persistence: Dallas heat waves can last for weeks with little relief. Don't assume cooling is coming without strong evidence of pattern change.
Severe Weather Impacts: Strong thunderstorms can bring rapid temperature drops via outflow boundaries. Watch for storms that could affect the airport.
Blue Norther Warning Signs: Watch for strong pressure rises and wind shifts indicating an approaching cold front.
Market Resolution Details
Dallas temperature markets resolve based on the official high temperature in the NWS CLI for station KDFW, issued by the Fort Worth forecast office (FWD).
Resolution Source: NWS CLI (Climatological Report)
Reporting Period: 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM Central Standard Time.
Resolution Source: NWS CLI (Climatological Report)
Reporting Period: 12:00 AM to 11:59 PM Central Standard Time.
Data Release Schedule
Typical release times for key data products at KDFW. Times shown in UTC.
| Data Type | Typical Time (UTC) | Variability |
|---|---|---|
| CLI Report Daily climatological summary |
07:07 UTC | ±13 min |
| 24hr High METAR with max temp |
05:53 UTC | ±1 min |
| METAR Hourly observations |
Hourly at :53 | ±0 min |
| DSM #1 Daily summary message |
21:07 UTC | Issuance time |
| DSM #2 Daily summary message |
22:07 UTC | Issuance time |
| DSM #3 Daily summary message |
00:07 UTC | Issuance time |
| DSM #4 Daily summary message |
00:08 UTC | Issuance time |
6-Hour High/Low Reports
These METARs include 6-hour maximum and minimum temperatures, useful for tracking intraday temperature trends.
05:53 UTC
11:53 UTC
17:53 UTC
23:53 UTC
Note: Times are approximate and may vary. CLI reports are the official resolution source for temperature markets. See NWS Data Guide for more information.
Data Resources
Quick links to official data sources and tools for Dallas.
📊 NWS Data
🗄️ Iowa Environmental Mesonet
📈 Wethr.net Tools
Forecasting Challenges
Cold Front Timing: Precisely predicting when cold fronts arrive is difficult. Small timing errors can significantly affect temperature outcomes.
Extreme Heat: Predicting whether temperatures hit 102°F vs 106°F during heat waves requires understanding subtle moisture and cloud cover patterns.
Severe Weather: Thunderstorm coverage and timing affects temperatures but is difficult to predict precisely.
Extreme Heat: Predicting whether temperatures hit 102°F vs 106°F during heat waves requires understanding subtle moisture and cloud cover patterns.
Severe Weather: Thunderstorm coverage and timing affects temperatures but is difficult to predict precisely.
Historical Temperature Records
Record High: 113°F recorded in June 1980 during the devastating heat wave.
Record Low: -8°F recorded in February 1899.
100°F+ Days: DFW averages 15-20 days per year at or above 100°F, with some years seeing significantly more during exceptional heat waves.
1980 Heat Wave: The summer of 1980 saw 42 consecutive days of 100°F+ temperatures, a record that stands today.
Record Low: -8°F recorded in February 1899.
100°F+ Days: DFW averages 15-20 days per year at or above 100°F, with some years seeing significantly more during exceptional heat waves.
1980 Heat Wave: The summer of 1980 saw 42 consecutive days of 100°F+ temperatures, a record that stands today.
📡 Official Data Sources
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