You probably woke up this morning, looked at the frost on your windshield, and thought winter finally decided to move in for good. Honestly, I don't blame you. Most of North Texas started Thursday, January 15, 2026, with the kind of bite that makes you question why you ever left the covers. We saw numbers dipping into the 30s across the Metroplex, and if you’re closer to the Red River, it was even grimmer.
But here’s the thing about the temperature in dallas today: it's a total shape-shifter.
By mid-morning, that 35°F low started retreating. As of noon, the mercury has already climbed to a much more manageable 51°F. If you’re stuck in an office looking out the window, the bright sun makes it look like a balmy 75°F. It isn't. But it’s not the arctic tundra either. We are basically living through a classic North Texas "onion day"—you’ll need about three layers at 8:00 AM and you’ll be throwing two of them in the backseat by lunchtime.
The Afternoon Peak: Chasing 57 Degrees
We’re on a trajectory to hit a high of 57°F today. Now, that might sound "chilly" to some, but it’s actually right on the money for a mid-January afternoon in Dallas. Typically, our average high for this time of year sits around 57.7°F, so we are essentially the poster child for "normal" right now.
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What’s making it feel better than the numbers suggest is the wind. Or rather, the lack of it.
Yesterday was a bit of a localized wind tunnel, but today we’ve got a gentle southwest breeze at only about 5 to 9 mph. When you combine that with 0% chance of rain and a UV index of 3, the "feels-like" temperature is actually quite pleasant. It’s the kind of day where you can actually sit on a patio for lunch if you find a spot out of the shade.
Why the Stability Won't Last
Don't get too comfortable with this "normalcy." Texas weather is notorious for being a mood ring, and the current temperature in dallas today is just the calm before a very windy storm. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service are already tracking a dry cold front set to barrel through tonight and into Friday morning.
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- The Humidity Factor: Right now, humidity is hovering around 35% to 43%. That’s dry. Really dry.
- The Fire Risk: Because we haven't seen significant rain, that upcoming front is going to bring gusty winds that could spike fire danger, especially west of Tarrant County.
- The Weekend Cliff: While we’re enjoying 57°F now, Saturday is looking at a high only in the 40s.
It’s easy to forget that just two weeks ago, we kicked off 2026 with unseasonably warm 70-degree days. That "Spring-like" start was a bit of a fluke. The reality of January is what we’re seeing right now: a constant tug-of-war between the lingering warmth of the Gulf and the cold Canadian air trying to push south.
Managing the DFW Temperature Swing
If you’re planning your evening, keep in mind that the drop-off happens fast once the sun goes down around 5:40 PM. By the time you’re heading home, that 57°F peak will be a memory, and we’ll be sliding back toward a clear, cold night with a low of 35°F again.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make with the temperature in dallas today is dressing for the afternoon and forgetting the commute. If you’re out past 7:00 PM, you’re going to want that heavier coat. The sky will stay clear, which sounds nice, but without cloud cover to trap the heat, the ground is going to lose all that afternoon warmth in a hurry.
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Interestingly, this pattern of dry, cold starts followed by mild afternoons is exactly what the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) models predicted for the middle of January. We’re in a bit of a transition period, moving away from a weak La Niña toward a potential El Niño later this year. For now, that just means we stay drier and slightly more volatile in our day-to-day shifts.
Your Practical Move for the Next 24 Hours
Keep the moisturizer handy. With humidity this low and the heater likely running in your house or car, your skin is going to feel it before you even notice the cold. Also, if you have outdoor plants that aren't fans of the mid-30s, you might want to bring them in one last time before the weekend really settles in.
Tomorrow morning is going to be another cold start, and the wind is going to make it feel significantly worse than today. Basically, take advantage of this afternoon’s 57-degree peak. It’s the warmest, calmest window we’re going to get until early next week.
Check your tire pressure too. These 20-degree swings between morning and afternoon are notorious for triggering those annoying "low pressure" sensors. It’s not a leak; it’s just the physics of the Dallas winter.
Keep an eye on the wind speeds starting tonight. While the temperature in dallas today is the headline, the wind gusts tomorrow will be the real story, likely hitting 20+ mph and making that Friday morning coffee run feel a lot more like a survival mission.