Dallas: Record Wet May Brings Rare Absence of 90 F Days

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

May 31,2015; 11:55PM,EDT

 

 

The wettest May on record in Dallas has also brought a rare absence of 90-degree days.
The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the official weather observation site for Dallas, has yet to record a high of 90 F or greater so far this year.

Absence of 90-Degree Days in Dallas

88 F

Highest temperature so far in 2015

April 19

Average first 90-degree day

June 12, 1970

Latest first 90-degree day reading on record

6

Average number of 90-degree days in May

October 10, 2014

Last occurrence of a high in the 90s

April 27

First 90-degree day of 2014

There have only been five years, in recorded history, when Dallas failed to register a high of 90 F, according to the National Weather Service's Fort Worth, Texas, office, with the most recent year being 1983. That year, the first 90-degree day did not occur until June 3.
June 12, 1970, holds the record for the latest first 90-degree reading in Dallas, added AccuWeather Climatologist Ryan Adamson.

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Temperatures this year have only been able to peak at 88 F due to the unusually wet April and May's record rainfall.
With a rainfall total of 16.96 inches, May 2015 shattered the previous May record of 13.66 inches from May 1982. May 2015 is now the city's third wettest month on record. At the top of the list is April 1922, with 17.64 inches.

Dallas registered either a trace or measurable rainfall on 24 days of May. Drier weather has finally graced the city.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Ben Noll expects that Dallas will finally record its first 90-degree day during the first half of June, though a turn to hot weather is not anticipated.
"Later this week, a ridge of high pressure will build overhead and give Dallas a chance to approach 90 F," Noll stated.

Warmth should get suppressed early next week before the window once again opens for temperatures to rise to around 90 F during the middle of June.
"Chances, however, are not overwhelming for highs in the upper 90s and 100 F through the middle of June," added Noll. "Soil moisture is high, so temperatures will be slow to come up."
The sun's energy must first work to evaporate that moisture, limiting how much warming can take place.
The sun will have plenty of opportunities to help Dallas dry out after the wettest May on record.
"Widespread rainfall should evade Texas through the next 15 days," added Noll. "But, the third week of June may get more active."