DALLAS — The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex continues to experience a very warm fall overall, with no freezing temperatures recorded yet this season at DFW International Airport, the area's official weather monitoring station.
With freezes looking very unlikely through at least Thanksgiving, this season's first freeze will arrive later than the average first freeze date of Nov. 22. However, historical records, which date back to 1899, show that December freezes are not uncommon for the area, with 35 first freezes occurring during the final month of the year.
The latest first freeze ever recorded in DFW occurred on Jan. 4, 1972, giving this season's delay some perspective.
Despite the forecast showing cooler temperatures returning this week, no freezing temperatures are expected in the immediate future. The extended outlook suggests continued above-normal temperatures, though not quite as warm as in recent weeks.
A freeze will happen at some point this winter, but DFW will likely have to wait until well into December unless the weather pattern dramatically changes.
Residents are encouraged to use this extended mild period to prepare their homes and properties for when freezing temperatures do arrive, including:
- Protecting exposed pipes
- Checking heating systems
- Winterizing irrigation systems
- Preparing to protect sensitive plants
While DFW continues its freeze-free streak for now, history suggests it's not a matter of if, but when, the first freeze will arrive. The question remains whether this season will approach the historic 1972 record for the latest first freeze.