We asked our WFAA meteorologists to guess how many triple-digit temperature days North Texans would have to deal with this summer. Here’s what they told us.
DALLAS — If you’ve been watching our WFAA weather team’s forecasts lately, then you know that the summertime heat has finally arrived in Dallas-Fort Worth.
No, we haven’t yet faced any 100-degree days here so far this summer, and our meteorologists’ current 14-day forecast doesn’t have any triple-digit temperatures in it yet — but things do get pretty close.
All of which is to say: Brace yourselves, folks! After a brief flirtation with uncharacteristic triple-digit temperatures back in May, the “gates of hell” — as WFAA Chief Meteorologist Pete Delkus likes to call our brutal summers around here — are set to open any day now.
The real question is this: How bad will it be? How many 100-degree days will North Texans be forced to deal with this summer?
Are we in store for a summer like 1980, when we suffered a record-setting 42 consecutive days of 100-degree temperatures, including every day of July? Or how about that summer in 2011, when we set a record for most 100-degree days total in a year at 71? Or, just maybe, could this summer be a relatively mild one for North Texas?
To find out, we decided — for the fourth year running — to reach out to our in-house experts and to ask them directly: How many 100-degree days do you predict we’ll see this year?
Before we get into their guesses, here’s a little backstory on how our meteorologists do at this annual contest.
In 2022 and 2023, Greg Fields took the cake and came the closest with his guesses out of all of our meteorologists. He guessed 35 days in 2023, when we dealt with 55 of them. And, in 2022, he guessed 40 days when the National Weather Service reported 47.
Last year, it was Delkus who earned the crown, guessing that we’d see 22 triple-digit days in 2024 when, in fact, we endured 23 of them. Not only did he earn a win with that prediction, but he also offered up the closest guess we’ve seen in the history of this little challenge.
So: Will our award-winning chief — currently celebrating his 20th year of forecasting the weather for WFAA viewers — once again come out on top?
It’ll be months before we know for sure. At this point, we can only speculate. So, without further ado, check out our meteorologists’ best guesses on the matter — presented below, in alphabetical order.
Pete Delkus: 30 days
All data points to a hotter than normal and drier-than-normal summer. Given that we average 20 100-degree days per year, my forecast is we’ll experience 30 triple-digit days this summer.
Greg Fields: 39 days
Based on where we are now and the seasonal outlook through August, I’d say we’re headed for a long, hot summer. By the time it’s all said and done, we’re looking at about 39 triple-digit days this summer.
Jesse Hawila: 35 days
I’m going bold! I think we will have 35 triple-digit days this year. This is above the normal of 20. With the heat already showing an impressive display early this year with record highs in the middle of May, I’m going to lock in with an above-normal number. Also, ENSO neutral conditions are expected through the summer months this year. Historically, these have meant hot summers — including 1980 and 2011, which were either neutral or very close to it. Does this mean I think the summer will be as hot as those years? No. Those are benchmark summers for North Texas, and I don’t see us having one of those. But I do suspect it will be hotter than normal — yet again.
Cassie Heiter: 24 days
I’m going to go with 24. I think we will at least see the average amount of 100-degree days, which is 20. I’m adding four more because it looks to be a hotter-than-normal summer. And my lucky number is four.
Mariel Ruiz: 22 days
I’m going with 22 triple-digit days — or just above the normal of 20 for DFW. This spring was wet, which usually helps limit early-season heat thanks to higher soil moisture. ENSO neutral conditions are expected through the early fall. This likely means we will settle into a drier pattern for the second half of summer, which is normal. That middle-ground pattern opens the door for average to slightly above-average temps. A typical Texas summer? I’ll take it.