Monday is now officially the hottest day of the year as the temperature at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport reached 109 degrees.

This record came as parts of North Texas, including Dallas and Fort Worth, are under an excessive heat warning, with temperatures forecasted to reach above 105 early this week.

Madison Gordon, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said temperatures in Dallas-Fort Worth were expected to be near 110 Monday afternoon. That would be the highest temperature recorded for the area since 2011, Gordon said.

“The record high for today for Dallas-Fort Worth was actually 110, and that was all the way back in 1980,” Gordon said. “So we are definitely in the realm of meeting that record today.”

The weather service previously issued an excessive heat warning for Dallas, Denton and Fort Worth through Monday, but have since extended the warning through Tuesday evening.

“We’ll have fairly similar temperatures tomorrow,” Gordon said. “It may be a degree or two cooler, but it will still be dangerously hot.”

Residents who are in areas that are under excessive heat warnings and heat advisories are advised to limit outdoor activities, stay hydrated and to know the signs of heat-related illnesses, the weather service said. People should also check the back seats of their vehicles.

Historically dry summer

In a summary published last week, the U.S. Drought Monitor said Texas saw “its driest January-to-June period on record going back to 1895.”

Gordon said there is a slight chance of rain Thursday, but added that no significant rainfall is expected.

Significant drought conditions have lingered in central and north Texas this year, almost meeting levels seen in 2011, when most of the state experienced a severe drought.

“But 2011 started out with much worse drought conditions at the beginning of the summer,” Gordon said. “The drought conditions have rapidly worsened, especially for north and central Texas over the past couple of weeks as we’ve had this incessant above-normal heat that we’ve gotten no relief from.”

Impact to services

Over the weekend, the North Texas Municipal Water District said extreme weather conditions contributed to the need for unexpected maintenance at one of its water treatment plants, and asked residents to limit their water use.

The water district serves about 2 million people in multiple counties, including Collin, Dallas, Denton, Kaufman and Rockwall.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit announced in am email on Monday that Trinity Railway Express trains may have to operate at reduced speeds because of the hot weather, and added that delays are expected 2-6 p.m. from Monday to Wednesday.

With a forecasted high temperature of 110 degrees and an excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service, the hot weather could have an impact on TRE service. Restrictions on speed would require TRE to operate at reduced speeds. Schedule delays anticipated for 2-6 p.m. Mon, 7/18 thru Wed, 7/20.

From May 1 to July 18 this year, Jason Evans, a Dallas-Fire Rescue spokesman, said the department responded to 1,120 calls related to grassfires — about a 490% increase compared to the same period last year.

In an email Monday, the Fort Worth Fire Department said it saw a “dramatic increase” in grassfire calls. Since the start of June, the department has responded to 607 grass fires, about a 370% increase from the same time period last year.

The fire department asked residents to take steps to help prevent grass fires, including reducing or removing outside brush at their homes and businesses, and not parking vehicles on grass or shrubs.

The increase in the number of calls related to grassfires has not slowed response times, the department added.

“It only takes one ember from a grill or a cigarette to start a fire in conditions this dry,” the department wrote in the email.

Forecast for the week

Here is what the National Weather Service forecasts for Dallas this week.

Monday: Sunny, hot during the day with highs around 108. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Skies will be clear in the evening with lows in the lower 80s, and south winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny, hot during the day with highs around 108. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Heat index values up to 112 in the afternoon. Skies will be clear in the evening with lows in the lower 80s and south winds 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, hot during the day with highs around 108. South winds around 10 mph. Partly cloudy skies in the evening with lows in the lower 80s.

Thursday: Mostly sunny during the day with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Hot conditions with highs around 100. Heat index values up to 105. Partly cloudy skies in the evening with lows around 80.

Friday: Sunny, hot during the day with highs expected to reach 100 to 105. Mostly clear skies in the evening with lows in the lower 80s.

Saturday: Sunny, hot during the day with highs expected to reach 100 to 105. Clear skies in the evening with lows around 80.

Sunday: Sunny, hot during the day with highs 100 to 105.