The warm weather will feel extra warm in Dallas-Fort Worth on Wednesday with the heat index encroaching on triple digits, prompting ERCOT to issue a weather watch.
This week’s heat, with high temperatures climbing into the mid-80s and lower 90s Tuesday and Wednesday, was noticeably warmer with the heat index expected to close in on 100 degrees in eastern North Texas, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth.
The weather service calculates the heat index using air temperature and relative humidity to determine what temperatures “feel like.”
ERCOT, the operator of Texas’ power grid, issued a “weather watch” for Wednesday “due to unseasonably high temperatures, high levels of expected maintenance outages during the spring shoulder months, and the potential for lower reserves,” the agency said.
A weather watch does not indicate the state will see any widespread outages or that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas will call for energy conservation. It is only an indication of higher demand on Texas’ power infrastructure than expected. (You can view real-time power supply conditions at the DMN’s ERCOT hub.)
The heat will likely be brief, though, as a cool front is expected to approach the region Thursday. Highs will plummet into the mid- to upper 70s by the weekend, the forecast shows.
Chances for severe and strong storms also return to the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Wednesday afternoon and will last into Thursday with the threat of heavy rainfall, large hail and gusty winds. The weather should dry up by Friday.
Some areas that have received rain recently and may still be saturated could experience flash flooding.
Forecast for Dallas via KXAS-TV (NBC5):
THURSDAY: Partly cloudy and not as warm with a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low: 66. High: 81. Wind: NE 10-15 mph.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny and slightly cooler. Low: 61. High: 77. Wind: N 10-15 mph.
SATURDAY: Partly cloudy and mild. Low: 60. High: 80. Wind: NE 5-10 mph.
SUNDAY: Partly to mostly cloudy and mild with a 30% chance of a shower and storm. Low: 62. High: 79. Wind: SE 10-15 mph.
MONDAY: Partly cloudy and warmer with a 30% chance of a shower and storm. Low: 62. High: 80. Wind: SE 10-15 mph.
