Dallas Weather: Warm Spell Before Winter’s Return | 2026 Forecast

DALLAS –

Dallas-Fort Worth residents have one last chance too experience winter weather Tuesday before a significant warming trend brings temperatures into the 60s and 70s for the New Year’s holiday.

Did you know? – The average high temperature for Dallas in late December is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This warming trend will considerably exceed that average.

• Temperatures will be below average Tuesday but will quickly recover with sunshine.
• A warming trend begins Wednesday, with temperatures reaching the 60s by New Year’s Eve.
• Weekend temperatures are expected to climb into the 70s, potentially approaching 80 degrees.

Dallas-Fort Worth will experience a final day of cooler temperatures Tuesday before a dramatic shift in the weather pattern, according to a forecast from KDFW. Skies cleared Monday night, allowing temperatures to drop, but sunshine and dry air are expected to help temperatures recover quickly throughout the day. Why is this happening? A high-pressure system is building over the region, ushering in warmer air from the Gulf of Mexico.

Tuesday Forecast

DFW will remain a few degrees below average on Tuesday, but conditions are expected to be pleasant, KDFW reports.The last of the cold air will linger Tuesday night under clear skies and light winds. Who will be affected? Residents throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex will experience the final day of cooler temperatures.

Pro tip – Layering clothing is a good strategy for fluctuating temperatures. be prepared for cooler mornings and evenings, even as daytime highs rise.

New Year’s Eve Forecast

A warming trend will begin Wednesday,rapidly turning temperatures mild as the year closes out. Sunshine will push afternoon highs into the 60s, and New Year’s Eve is forecast to remain clear, with temperatures cooling to near 50 degrees by midnight. What can we expect for New year’s Eve? Clear skies and mild temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit are predicted for outdoor celebrations.

7-Day Forecast

Cloud cover will increase Thursday with temperatures remaining in the 60s. According to KDFW, if the clouds clear early, some areas could reach the 70s. Clouds will exit Friday morning as a cold front moves thru the region,though the air mass will remain mild,and the afternoon will not feel particularly cool despite a shifting north wind. If the front is delayed, highs could reach the 70s. how will the cold front impact us? The front is expected to bring a slight cooling trend, but temperatures will remain above average.

Saturday will be “cooler” on the other side of the front, but with highs in the 60s, it will not be a deep freeze, said Evan Andrews of KDFW. Most of the nation’s true cold air will be bottled up in the Great Lakes and the Northeast this first weekend of 2026. Northwest winds aloft will keep skies mainly sunny and pleasant.

Weekend temperatures will climb back into the 70s, and that warmth is expected to last into early next week as Gulf moisture returns. Temperatures may even approach 80 degrees again. While rain is absolutely possible, the next major storm system is not expected to reach Texas until the middle or end of next week. How did it end? The initial cold snap ended with a rapid warming trend, bringing temperatures well above average for the New Year’s holiday and into the following week.

Reader question – Will this warmer weather affect local plant life? What are your thoughts on the impact of these temperature swings?

What This Means for You