The warmest day was April 13 with a high of 92. The coolest temperature was a low of 29 on April 7, leaving us a day/night average of 76 which was 2 degrees warmer than normal.

Total precipitation for the month was 6.07”, which was nearly four inches above the normal April precipitation of 2.76”. April was the first month of 2025 that was wetter than normal. The last day of the month brought a record 2.56″ of steady rain.

There were several rounds of severe weather in North and Northeast Texas in April, including several tornadoes east of Denton County on April 4. The most active day for severe weather was April 19 when 12 tornadoes were confirmed west of us. A later outbreak of tornadoes on April 25 affected the Panhandle and South Plains of Texas. Denton County escaped the most serious wind and hail storms during the month. No one was injured or killed in April’s severe storms. Good job!

Much of April’s stormy weather was due to an unusually active sub-tropical Pacific jet stream which launched several rounds of severe weather across North Texas and the Midwest. The storm systems were partially blocked or slowed by the Bermuda high over the Gulf and Caribbean Sea. The month of May promises to be just as stormy as April was.

Everyone in North Texas should follow basic safety practices whenever severe weather is present or forecast in our area. Download Storm Shield or another weather-alert app. Have a plan when severe weather may affect your home or office. Know where you could go for shelter; put as many walls between you and the storms as possible, preferably a central closet or bathroom away from windows. Avoid driving during a severe thunderstorm, tornado or flash flood warning. Get someplace safe and stay there while the storm passes. Never stop underneath an overpass to protect your car from hail or leave your car to shelter on the embankment of the overpass. Seek shelter in a parking garage or inside supermarkets, restaurants, etc.

When driving in a storm, tune into to LOCAL radio stations for LIVE severe weather warnings. WBAP 820AM is the primary Emergency Alert Station for North Texas.

The post Denton County dodges worst of April’s severe weather appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

March was much warmer and drier than normal.  The average high here in Denton County was 75, nearly 8 degrees warmer than the norm of 67. The average low was 43.9, close to the normal low of 44. The warmest day was March 25^th, hitting 90. The coldest night was March 10^th with a low of 29.

Rainfall was sparse. On March 2^nd, Denton Enterprise Airport recorded .30”. Another .45” fell on the 4^th, and nearly a quarter-inch fell over March 8^th and 9^th. Rains from the 26^th through the 28^th added .42” which totaled 1.42” for the month, well below the norm of 2.82 inches. So far this year, Denton has recorded only 4.98 inches of rain, far below the 7.33” we should have.

Severe weather season started, as if on cue, March 3^rd, when a tornado produced widespread wind damage in Wise County.  A second tornado, rated EF-1, damaged apartment buildings in east Irving. From March 14-16, a “super outbreak” of 112 tornadoes raged across 14 states from Missouri all the way to coastal North Carolina, as far south as New Orleans and as far north as Chicago. At least 40 people were killed, many more injured and thousands lost their homes. Most of the tornadoes were “well-warned,” which means all but the strongest EF-3 and EF-4 tornadoes were survivable if the proper precautions had been taken.

If at home or in a building, take shelter as low to the ground as possible, away from windows, quite often a bathroom or a closet. Put as many walls between you the storm as possible. Cover yourself with blankets and pillows. If in a car or truck, don’t stop under an overpass, which can accelerate storm winds. Sheltering in a vehicle can often result in serious to fatal injuries. Buildings and parking garages are usually safe.

A reminder that outdoor warning sirens are not intended to alert residents in their homes and those indoors should rely on other forms of emergency notifications.

Looking ahead, the Climate Prediction Center forecasts warmer and drier conditions through April and even more so in May through July.
Save the Date! “WeatherCon” is scheduled for Saturday, April 26^th at the Frontiers of Flight Museum next to Dallas Love Field. You and the kids can have “hands on” experience with storm chaser vehicles, make your own TV weathercast, and hear from the top storm chasers and forecasters in America. Lots of fun for the kids and great information on storm preparation, all free. Meet your favorite broadcasters from WBAP and FOX 4, including Meteorologists Dan Henry and me, Brad Barton. The museum admission is free from 9:30 to 1:30.

The post March’s extremes highlight need for preparedness appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

February’s average high was 59.8 degrees, nearly identical to the normal average high of 60. February’s average low was 33, nearly 3 degrees cooler than the average low of 36.4.  The warmest highs of 83 were on February 3^rd and again on the 8^th.  The coldest temperatures of 16, 11 10, 19 and 18 occurred from the 18^th through the 22^nd of the month.

Total precipitation for the month was just .94” which was 1.54” below normal for February rainfall. Taken together with January’s above-normal 2.62” of rain, Denton Enterprise Airport has recorded 3.56” of rain during the first two months of 2025, nearly an inch below normal (4.42”) through the first two months of the year.

A weakness in the Polar Vortex allowed a polar front to race south into Texas at mid-month.  From a high temperature of 50, Denton dropped to a low of 16 on the 18^th, topping out only in the 20’s on the 19^th and 20^th of the month.

Unlike previous winter invasions, the power stayed on, mostly. TxDOT routinely blocks all express lanes of the freeways whenever the roads are forecast to freeze. Most of the express lanes are not wide enough to allow for a shoulder or breakdown lane, which means just one spinout could block the entire express lane. The state instituted the new policy shortly after the 133-car pileup on I-35W in Fort Worth during the deep freeze of February, 2021.

Outside of a few Flash Flood warnings on the 12^th, no severe weather events were reported in North Texas.

Looking ahead, it’s hard not to admit that “spring has sprung.” The Global Forecast model shows only a modest cold front dropping lows into the 30’s in the second week of March. The European model indicates no significant cold fronts through at least the first two weeks of the month. The average “last killing frost” of the North Texas winter is between March 15^th and the 20^th.

Meanwhile, March begins the North Texas Severe Weather Season. As the earth’s northern hemisphere begins to tilt back toward more direct sun exposure, the northern jet stream migrates south and drags upper-level storm systems across Texas, while surface conditions turn windy and warmer. Today is the best day to prepare for grass fires, wind damage and power outages that could affect your home and safety.

The post February weather had its ups and downs appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

Answer: About 20 degrees.

We will feel the differences between those two fronts here in Denton County in the next five days.

Saturday evening, a Canadian airmass, originating in the McKensie River Valley of western Canada, will break south through the Rockies into North Texas. We can expect blustery north winds, temperatures dropping into the 20’s and wind chills into the teens.

On Tuesday, a temporary weakness in the Polar Vortex will allow a much colder Polar airmass to leak southward, east of the Rockies into North Texas. Expect bitterly cold north winds, temperatures plummeting into the teens and wind chills in the single digits to near zero Wednesday morning.

Temperatures across North Texas will drop below freezing Tuesday afternoon and probably won’t get above freezing again until midday Thursday, a period of about 36 hours.

The good news here is that both fronts are likely to come and go without any major precipitation.

The post Barton: A tale of two cold fronts appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

The first week of January was delightful. The warmest temperature in January was 67 on January 5th and again on the 30th. The coldest day was 16 on January 11th. The first month of 2025 produced 10 days at or above 60 degrees and 6 days with highs in the 30’s. Twenty nights were in the teens and 20’s. The overall average temperature of Denton County in January was 40, four degrees cooler than normal.

Measurable precipitation occurred on only four days; 1.1” fell on January 9th and 10th, much of it as snow. The highest snowfall total in Denton County was likely 4.7” in Northlake. On January 29th & 30th, a slow-moving storm system, cut off from the subtropical Pacific jet, brought persistent multi-inch rain storms to North Texas. The late January storms produced another 1.6 inches. Total precipitation for the month was a helpful 2.6” which was .7” above January’s normal rainfall of 1.9 inches. Officially, there were no reports of severe weather in Denton County.

Looking ahead, despite Punxsutawney Phil’s prognostication of six more weeks of winter, there are no significant trends other than slightly warmer and drier than normal. February has normal highs near 60 and lows of around 36. Normal precipitation during February is 2.5 inches, half an inch wetter than January. More snow?

A word about the deadly wildfires in Southern California: The “Great Basin,” encompasses the lower flatlands between the California Sierras and the Colorado Rockies, (mostly Nevada). In fall and winter, cold, dry air from Alaska and western Canada gathers in the Great Basin. Whenever a low-pressure system approaches the Pacific coast, it draws air from the Rockies across California. As cold, dry air flows downslope toward low pressure, the air compresses and heats up at a rate of 3 degrees for every thousand feet. In extreme events, Santa Ana winds can reach 80-100 mph at temperatures above 90. No one can stop them, only adapt to them. Clearing dry brush in the forests, scraping out wide fire-breaks, storing snow-melt water in man-made reservoirs all would help, if citizens demanded it. When sensible, realistic environmental practices begin to value human life and property over smelt or the snail darter, we can prevent or at least minimize such disasters.  It’s much easier to prevent wildfires than to put them out.

The post January brought a winter wonderland to Denton County appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

The warmest reading in December was 78 on the 16^th, while the coldest was 23 on the 21^st. The average high of 61 was 2 degrees warmer than normal, while the average low of 35.8 was only slightly warmer than the norm of 35.1. Overnight lows were in the 20’s at least 7 nights. Through the 28th, rainfall was 2.8” which was a quarter-inch above normal for the month. The two biggest rainfalls were .99” on the 24^th and another .85” on the 26^th. As of press time, Denton Enterprise has recorded 38.7 inches of rain, nearly 3.5” above Denton’s average annual rainfall.

Three fast-moving Pacific storm systems dropped severe storms and heavy rains on North Texas on both sides of the Christmas holiday. A third outbreak of flooding rains hit mainly south of Denton County on the 28^th. It was the opening act of major severe weather outbreak which produced a tornadic supercell from Alvin across Galveston Bay into Port Arthur, a damage path of 120 miles.

Forecast models are predicting an Arctic airmass could reach North Texas around the second week of January with potential teens and 20’s for overnight lows.

Some weather highlights of 2024:

The temperature plunged from 60 on January 13^th to 19 the next morning and an overnight low of 11 at Denton Enterprise the morning of January 14^th.

North Texas all but entered spring on February 1^st with a high of 71 degrees.

March 14^th was the evening Roanoke, Lantana and other locales in Denton and Tarrant Counties were pounded by 3-inch hail.

April storms seemed to take aim on Denton County when baseball hail hit Rhome, Justin and other targets in western Denton County on April 1^st.

In early June, 60 mph winds raked across the area downing trees and fences.

The deadliest tornado outbreak in Texas was Memorial Day weekend, when a massive supercell covering 900 square miles killed 7 and injured over 100 in rural Cooke County around Valley View and crossed into northern Denton County. The EF-2 storm lifted near Pilot Point, but produced winds near 165 mph in Celina.

It’s a reminder that severe, life-threatening storms can occur at any time in North Texas. Weather apps are fine, but the only sure way of hearing tornado, severe thunderstorm or flash flood warnings is via live local radio, not satellite radio or your Spotify playlist. WBAP 820AM/93.3 FM and 570 KLIF/96.3 KSCS-HD2 broadcast all warnings for 13 counties in North Texas.

If Santa didn’t bring you a NOAA Weather-Alert Radio, go buy one yourself today.

The post 2024 was another “weather to remember” year in Denton County appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

By the numbers, November was exceptionally warmer than normal. The average high so far this month has been 73, six degrees warmer than the norm of 67. The average low was 47, four degrees warmer than the climate norm of 43. The warmest high temperature was 80 on November 4 and again November 24th. The coldest temperature was a light freeze of 31 on November 21st. North Texas felt a routine cold front on Monday the 25^th, while a reinforcing front, organizing in Canada, was due to reach North Texas just before Thanksgiving. Flirting with light freezing weather is a lot easier on plants and landscapes than when the first freeze is a hard freeze.

Rainfall of over 4 inches looked pretty good on paper, but much of North Texas still looks and feels like a drought. Denton recorded over 2 inches from October 31^st through the first few days of the month. 1.13” fell on the 7^th and 8^th.  Another 1.32” was recorded over the 17^th and 18^th, adding up to 4.53” which is 2.3” above normal for the month. So far this year, Denton Enterprise has recorded 35.68” of rain. The U.S. Drought Monitor puts Denton somewhere between “Abnormally Dry” and “Moderate Drought.”

Looking ahead to December, the Climate Prediction Center forecasts slightly warmer and drier-than-normal weather through the last month of the year. That’s consistent with the expected development of a La Nina (cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific). During a La Nina, the polar jet stream is displaced farther north, which tends to bring cold air masses down into Missouri and Arkansas, rather than Kansas and Oklahoma.

While La Nina winters can be mild, we can still count on a hard freeze every winter, but extreme cold, such as temperatures in the teens and single digits may stay northeast of Texas. Every winter, we get two or three “snow days,” which can mean anything from a trace to a school-closing, traffic-crippling ice storm. Meteorologist Rick Mitchell of NBC 5 noted that there has never been a winter in DFW without at least a trace of snow, as far back as our records go to 1898.

Take advantage of the mild weather to disconnect garden hoses, insulate outdoor faucets and pipes and prepare for whatever winter has in store for us.

The post Mild November hints at what’s to come in La Niña winter appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

The 2015 State Fair was part of a 32-day rain-free period. The 1975 State Fair took place in a 41-day dry spell, while the 1924 State Fair of Texas ran during a 48-day drought. (Thanks to Paul Ruekberg, who keeps climate records for “NewsWatch Dallas.”)

While lawns and landscapes across North Texas are looking grim, the forecast for early November is looking up.

One of the driest Octobers on record in North Texas was also one of the warmest. October’s average high (as of 10/27) was 85.7, which was 6 degrees warmer than the monthly average high of 79.4. Denton had at least 6 days at or above 90 degrees; hottest being October 13th which got to 95. The coolest morning was October 17th at 49, but Denton had at least four overnight lows at or above 70. The average low of 65.5 was 7 degrees above normal.

October’s nil rainfall total was over 4 inches below normal. Denton’s cumulative rainfall through Oct. 27 was 30.94” which puts us about 2 inches below normal for this point in the year. Denton had a rainy spring, but the drought occurred during some of the hottest months of the year. July’s rainfall of .78”, was followed by just .03” in August and only 1.71” in September and none so far in October. That’s just 2.52” of rainfall since the end of June.

The late summer drought could be connected to changes in ocean currents and temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. Roughly 60% of the time, an El Nino (warmer than normal ocean temperatures during the fall) produces stronger and more frequent storm systems riding the Subtropical Pacific jet stream across northern Mexico into Texas. At least one October in the early 1980’s resulted in 13 inches of rain. Meanwhile, a La Nina (cooler than normal ocean temperatures) tends to produce fewer storm systems, which allow strong high-pressure zones to build in the desert southwest and expand into Texas, killing rainfall and chasing cold fronts away. The biggest problem with the timing of this year’s drought is the persistent risk of wind-driven grass fires across Texas.

Summer can’t hold on forever, though. A passing upper-level disturbance around Oct. 29th should induce a surface low northwest of DFW, which will draw Gulf moisture northward to collide with a slow-moving cold front bringing showers and storms. A similar scenario could produce another round of scattered rains during the first few days of November.

I hope your roof got fixed in time. (Mine didn’t).

Brad Barton is Chief Meteorologist of WBAP 820 and 570 KLIF. You can follow Brad on Twitter @BradBartonDFW / @WBAP 24/7 News.

The post Barton: Rain relief welcome after Denton County experiences historic October drought appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

The average high in September was 89.8, which was 1.4 degrees above the normal high of 88.4. The average low was 66, which was 1.2 degrees above the norm of 64.8. Our hottest days were September 19th and 20th, both of which touched 99. September had at least 13 days at or above 90 degrees.

The coolest high was a welcome 78 on the 23rd. September also gave us at least six mornings in the 50’s. The coolest was September 10th at 51.

September rainfall was sparse and spotty, following August’s rainfall of only .23”. Showers and storms brought not-so-welcome rains around the Labor Day holiday. Over an inch (1.03”) fell over September 3rd and 4th. Rain was also recorded on the 6th (.06”), and .61” fell over the 22nd and 23rd. Total rainfall for September was 1.71” which was .77” short of the norm for at 2.48 inches. So far this year, Denton Enterprise Airport has recorded 30.94 inches of rain, still well above normal. Severe weather missed our corner of Denton County in September.

The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a “short” La Nina in the months ahead. Cooler ocean temperatures generally slow the development of low-pressure systems north of the equatorial Pacific Ocean. For North Texas, that can mean continued drought from August and September into October. Accordingly, the extended forecast for October is for near-normal temperatures but below-normal rainfall.

That doesn’t mean we won’t see any severe weather. October is the start of our second severe weather season in North Texas. Right now, forecast models suggest no change in hot and dry weather through October 10th. Beyond that, there are hints of precipitation and a cold (or “not-so-warm”) front reaching North Texas by the middle of the October.

Brad Barton is Chief Meteorologist of WBAP 820 and 570 KLIF. You can follow Brad on Twitter @BradBartonDFW and @WBAP 24/7 News.

The post Barton: Dry conditions expected to continue as La Niña looms appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.

The past month has been sharply warmer than normal with almost no precipitation through August 27^th. Despite some breezy days, North Texas has escaped most serious wildfires, but a hot, dry August often leads to a hot, dry September. If the current, semi-permanent high-pressure system remains strong, while deflecting any tropical systems in the Gulf of Mexico, watering restrictions could turn into watering bans extending throughout North Texas. As of this writing, a weak cold front was forecast to produce some spotty showers and isolated thunderstorms over Labor Day.

By the numbers, August was exceptionally hot and dry. The hottest temperature so far in August was 107 degrees, recorded on the 19^th, while 69 was the coolest on August 8^th. The average high temperature during August was 100.4, which was four degrees hotter than the normal average high of 96.1. The average low was 76.2, which was three degrees above the norm of 73. At least 14 days in August topped out at or above 100 degrees. The day/night average temperature for August worked out to 88.3, which was nearly 4 degrees warmer than normal.

As of Aug. 27, rainfall was virtually nil at .03” which was recorded on August 3^rd. The last significant rain recorded at Denton Enterprise Airport was .69” on July 21^st. Since then, Denton has been left high and dry for the past five weeks in a row. So far in 2024, Denton has received 29 inches of rain, roughly 7” above normal for this time of year. Once again, the 17 inches of rain received in April and May have kept lake levels respectable, but vegetation is browning out in a hurry, now.

Lake Ray Roberts, Lake Grapevine and Lewisville Lake are still at or above 98% of capacity. West and southwest of Denton County, Lake Bridgeport, Eagle Mountain Lake and Lake Worth are averaging 65-70% of capacity.

The Climate Prediction Center forecasts Texas and much of the southern half of the lower 48 will have warmer-than-normal temperatures during September, while rainfall is expected to remain below normal.

The post Denton County sweltered through exceptionally hot, dry August appeared first on Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News.