Dallas-Fort Worth dry spell ending with Halloween rain
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Rain, rain, here to stay. Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
The clouds might clear out and the weather should feel a little cooler by the time trick-or-treaters start knocking on doors demanding candy.
Why it matters: Dallas-Fort Worth will likely see rain through the weekend, ending a historic dry spell.
- Despite a rainy spring, much of the region is now in a moderate drought after a mostly rainless October and below-average rainfall since July.
The latest: The Dallas area went 34 consecutive days without any precipitation, a streak that ended Tuesday. That was the eighth-longest period in D-FW without rain, per the National Weather Service.
- As much as 3 inches of rain are forecast through Tuesday, with the highest chance of rain occurring Saturday.
Between the clouds: The past couple of days have been cloudier and more humid, with a few sprinkles here and there.
- But there was still no measurable precipitation in D-FW. October typically brings more than 4 inches of rain to the region.
The big picture: October in North Texas was much warmer than usual. The average temperature was about 76, nearly 8 degrees above normal.
- Hotter Halloweens might become the new norm. Fall temperatures have increased by 2.5 degrees nationwide since 1970, according to Climate Central.
Zoom in: Evening temperatures in Dallas-Fort Worth in October have increased 2.6 degrees since 1970.
- October nights have warmed by more than 3 degrees in most major U.S. cities since 1970.
Yes, but: Thursday evening's temperatures will be in the 60s, well below the hottest Halloween night in 1977, when it was 89.
What's next: The winter is predicted to be warmer and drier than usual, much like this month.
- Most of Texas, including D-FW, is predicted to have above-average temperatures and below-average rainfall in December through February, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's winter outlook.