North Texas has been riding a weather rollercoaster this week, with temperatures swinging wildly, gusty winds whipping across the plains, and the threat of severe storms and even snow looming for some parts of the state. Residents in Dallas-Fort Worth woke up on January 8, 2026, to an unseasonably warm and windy morning, with temperatures in the mid- to upper 60s—more than 20 degrees warmer than the same time the day before, according to FOX 4 Weather and the National Weather Service.
But this balmy start was just the prelude to a dramatic shift. As meteorologist Brian James of KDAF noted, temperatures were expected to hold steady overnight on January 7, with cloudy skies and a breeze, setting the stage for the warm surge that followed. By Thursday, January 8, a disturbance moving through the Plains brought a 30 percent chance of showers before 9 a.m., especially west and northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth. The skies were forecast to remain cloudy through mid-morning, but the sun would soon break through, allowing highs to soar to 77 to 79 degrees—falling just short of the record high of 88, as reported by NBC5 and the FOX 4 Weather team. Southwest winds kept things muggy, with gusts reaching up to 30 mph, and the day’s warmth was expected to climb into the upper 70s and lower 80s.
Yet, the warmth came with a catch. Counties along the Red River faced a marginal level 1 threat for severe storms, including strong wind and hail, as highlighted by the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center. "A level 1 of 5 risk of isolated severe thunderstorms has been issued for a large part of West and North Texas, including Midland, Abilene, Childress and Wichita Falls," according to reporting by the Houston Chronicle. Most of these storms were expected to be isolated, but those that did develop could pack a punch, bringing large hail or even an isolated tornado, especially in East Texas.
As the day wore on, a cold front began to march through the region, bringing wind gusts up to 35 mph and raising the fire risk along and west of I-35. By afternoon, some clouds cleared but breezy conditions persisted, and the temperature drop was on the horizon. "The warm and muggy weather will give way to much cooler temperatures in the Dallas-Fort Worth area over the next few days," explained FOX 4 Weather Meteorologist Ali Turiano. The front wasn’t just a local event—it was part of a broader, powerful low pressure system developing over the western United States, set to send a mix of deep moisture, rising motion, and cold air into Texas over the next 48 hours, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Friday, January 9, was forecast to bring further change. Another front would stall to the southeast, allowing storms to ignite in East Texas, with the main threats still wind and hail. The severe weather threat was again classified as marginal, but the best chance of storms was expected mainly across East Texas, covering areas like Longview, Lufkin, Huntsville, College Station, and Houston. An upgrade to a level 2 (slight) risk was even possible, depending on how conditions evolved, as per the Houston Chronicle.
For Dallas-Fort Worth, Friday’s temperatures were set to be about 10 degrees cooler, with highs barely reaching 70 degrees. The FOX 4 Weather team’s seven-day forecast painted a clear picture: “Partly sunny with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms. The best chance will be east of DFW. Low: 54. High: 70. Wind: NW 10-20 mph.” The real transformation, though, was slated for the weekend.
Saturday, January 10, and Sunday, January 11, were expected to bring a return to more seasonable weather. Lows would dip into the 30s, with highs in the mid-50s, and the chillier air would stick around through at least the middle of next week. The National Weather Service forecasted, “Much cooler with plenty of sun. Low: 39. High: 56. Wind: NW 10-15 mph,” for Saturday, and “Mostly sunny and cool. Low: 35. High: 58. Wind: N 5-10 mph,” for Sunday. Rain chances would drop off, offering a dry stretch for the region after the tumultuous week.
Elsewhere in Texas, the weather drama was set to play out differently. In the Panhandle, the strong cold front was expected to interact with leftover moisture, producing light accumulating snow—up to 3 inches in towns like Dalhart, Stratford, Dumas, and Perryton, and up to an inch near Amarillo. While Amarillo averages more than 16 inches of snow annually, this winter had been stingy so far, with only 0.2 inch recorded through January 7, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. For snow lovers, this could finally bring a taste of winter.
In San Antonio and South-Central Texas, the cold front was expected to arrive late Friday into early Saturday, dropping afternoon temperatures by about 20 degrees—from the 70s on Friday into the 50s on Saturday. Overnight lows would dip into the upper 30s, but freezing temperatures weren’t in the cards. The region could expect several days of cooler weather, with daytime highs in the upper 50s to low 60s and morning lows in the low 40s through early next week.
Looking ahead, the forecast for North Texas called for a gradual warm-up as next week progressed, but no rain was expected through at least midweek. The extended forecast from NBC5 showed a steady climb: Monday, January 12, would bring sun, clouds, and cool weather with lows in the mid-30s and highs in the upper 50s; Tuesday and Wednesday would continue the trend, with highs reaching 60 and 62 degrees, respectively.
For many Texans, this week’s weather has been a reminder of the state’s meteorological mood swings. From balmy mornings to brisk weekends, and from the threat of severe storms to the promise of snow in the Panhandle, the Lone Star State has once again proven that when it comes to the forecast, anything can happen. As residents swap shorts for sweaters and keep a wary eye on the sky, the best advice might just be to expect the unexpected and keep that umbrella—and maybe even a snow shovel—close at hand.
