Dallas-Fort Worth has recorded its sixth-longest dry streak on record, matching a 54-day period that last occurred in 1955. The current drought began on July 16 and extended through Sept. 7, according to data from the official climate monitoring site at DFW International Airport.
The National Weather Service defines measurable precipitation as any amount exceeding 0.01 inches. While Tropical Depression Edouard brought brief rain to some parts of the region last week, those amounts were classified as traces and did not interrupt the dry spell. Radar data indicated precipitation east of Dallas, but the official airport site recorded no measurable rainfall.
The previous record for this duration was set in 1955 between Oct. 7 and Nov. 29. The longest dry streak on record occurred in 2000, when the area went 84 consecutive days without rain. The region first entered the top 10 longest dry periods on Aug. 30 after reaching 46 days without rainfall.
Heat records have also been tied this summer. As of Sept. 8, Dallas-Fort Worth experienced 44 days at or above 100 degrees, matching a record set in 1952. The highest number of extreme heat days occurred in 2011, with 71 days reaching that threshold.
Drought conditions have worsened significantly since early summer. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate drought coverage in parts of Dallas County rose from 59.20% on Aug. 25 to 90.30%. Statewide, moderate drought affected nearly 70% of Texas, up from 57.36% during the same period.
