Cowtown is finally living up to its name this week, and honestly, if you haven't pulled the heavy puffer jacket out of the back of the closet yet, Sunday is the day. We’ve had a weird start to 2026. Remember New Year’s Day? It was basically spring. We were hitting the lower 70s, and people were out at the Stockyards in t-shirts.
But things have shifted.
The fort worth tx weather forecast for this Sunday, January 18, is a bit of a mixed bag. Right now, it’s 62°F and sunny. Sounds great, right? Well, the dew point is sitting at a bone-dry 10°F. When the air is that dry, the temperature drops like a rock the second the sun goes down. We are looking at a low tonight of 23°F.
That is a nearly 40-degree swing in a single day.
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What is actually happening with the "Coldest Air of the Winter"
You've probably heard the local news anchors buzzing about the "coldest air of the season." They aren't kidding. While Sunday afternoon feels decent with that 62°F high, the wind is coming out of the southwest at about 7 to 8 mph, keeping things feeling crisp.
The real story is the fire danger. Because the humidity is hovering around 17% to 31%, the National Weather Service in Fort Worth has been keeping a close eye on areas west of I-35. Dry grass plus 20-25 mph gusts (which we saw earlier this weekend) equals a bad time for outdoor grills or brush fires.
The Week Ahead: Rain, Snow, or Just Gray?
If you're planning your commute for Monday—which is MLK Day—expect a bit of a cooldown. We’re dropping to a high of 52°F. It’ll be partly sunny, but that "feels-like" temperature is going to be stubborn.
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Here is the weird part of the forecast: Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tuesday stays mostly sunny with a high of 56°F, but then the clouds roll in. By Wednesday, January 21, the humidity jumps to 81%. We have a 35% chance of light rain during the day.
Is it going to snow?
Probably not this week. While the "Almanac" types love to predict North Texas snow in late January, the current data shows most of the moisture staying as liquid rain. However, keep an eye on Friday night, January 23. The forecast is calling for a 75% chance of "snow showers" as the temperature dips to 38°F. In Fort Worth, that usually means "slush that disappears in an hour," but it’s enough to make the Saturday morning grocery run a bit chaotic.
The La Niña Factor
We are currently in a La Niña cycle, which usually means Texas stays warmer and drier. But as the National Weather Service pointed out in their winter outlook, these cycles are getting more variable. We’re seeing more "warm" winters that are interrupted by these brutal, short-lived arctic blasts.
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Basically, don't plant your spring flowers yet.
Actionable Advice for Fort Worth Residents
- Drip those faucets tonight. With a low of 23°F, it's right in that danger zone for older homes in the Near Southside or Arlington Heights.
- Check your tire pressure. These 40-degree temperature swings are exactly why your "low tire" light keeps popping on.
- Fire safety. It is incredibly dry. If you're heading out to the parks or doing yard work, skip the burn pile for a few days until that humidity crawls back up on Wednesday.
- Pet safety. If it's too cold for you to stand outside in a light shirt for ten minutes, it's too cold for the dog to be left out overnight.
The weather stays "quiet" into early next week after the Sunday night freeze, so enjoy the sun while it lasts. Just maybe keep the extra blanket on the bed for a while longer.