Gainesville hits 108 and breaks a record as North Texas bakes

Gainesville broke a heat record Monday, and the reading at our own office was hotter still.

The official station at Gainesville Municipal Airport topped out at 108 degrees, one degree past the 107 set for August 24 and 15 degrees above the 93 that is normal for the date. Our weather station at the GvilleTX office measured a high of 110.3 degrees.

Both numbers can be right at once. Official records come from one instrument at one place, and on a still, dry afternoon a thermometer a few miles away can sit two degrees higher. The airport reading is the one that goes in the record book. The one at our office is closer to what it felt like standing outside.

How Monday climbed

The heat arrived early and then simply refused to quit. Gainesville was already at 95 by 10:15 a.m., crossed 100 before noon, and hit 105 by 12:55 p.m. The airport first registered 108 at 2:55 p.m. and was still reading 108 at 4:55 p.m. — two straight hours at the record.

It had not cooled off much overnight to begin with. Monday's low was 78 degrees, eight degrees warmer than a normal night here, and the day averaged 92.

Humidity fell to 19 percent in the afternoon. That is the one mercy in a day like this, because dry heat is easier on the body than the same temperature in August mugginess. It is also the problem: no rain has been measured here in the past 24 hours, and dry grass plus low humidity is how a discarded cigarette becomes a field fire.

The wider region

Monday was the second record in two days across North Texas.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the region's official reporting station, reached 108 degrees by 4 p.m. Monday, passing the 107 set in 2023. The National Weather Service reported the day's high climbing to 109 before the afternoon was over. On Sunday, DFW hit 109 and beat the 107 that had stood since 2010.

Nights are running nearly as remarkable as the days. At 4:30 a.m. Monday, DFW had still not dropped below 90 degrees. It eventually fell to 86 — which ties the warmest low temperature ever recorded there, only the sixth time the region has seen that number.

As of Sunday, North Texas had recorded 29 days at or above 100 degrees this year.

What forecasters say

The Weather Service's Fort Worth office had an Extreme Heat Warning in effect for all of North and Central Texas through 9 p.m. Monday, with highs up to 111 and a heat index between 101 and 111.

The warning continues through 9 p.m. Tuesday for much of the region, with afternoon highs up to 107 and a heat index of 102 to 107. A Heat Advisory covers parts of East and Central Texas.

Meteorologist David Bonnette told the Star-Telegram that a buildup of high pressure has not let up, and that relief should arrive as September nears. The normal high for September is 88.6 degrees, against August's 95.8.

The forecast does not offer much before then:

• Tuesday — 106
• Wednesday — 102
• Thursday — 100
• Friday — 101
• Saturday — 101
• Sunday — 101

A weak front later in the week may bring more clouds and a small rain chance, but temperatures are expected to stay near 100.

For perspective, Monday was hot but not historic for Gainesville. The town's all-time high is 113 degrees, set July 23, 2018, and August has reached 113 as well, on August 4, 2011.

Staying safe

Forecasters ask people to limit outdoor activity between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., which is exactly when Gainesville sat at 105 or above on Monday.

• Drink water before you are thirsty.
• Take frequent breaks in shade or air conditioning.
• Wear light-colored, breathable clothing.
• Never leave children or pets in a vehicle, even briefly.

Watch for heat illness: heavy sweating, cramps, dizziness, nausea, headache. If someone stops sweating, becomes confused, or passes out, call 911 — that is heat stroke, and it is a medical emergency.

Check on older neighbors, anyone living alone, and anyone whose air conditioning is out. Animals need shade and cool water all day. Pavement that a person can walk across in shoes will burn a dog's paws.

This heat is landing on a town where at least one shelter has been struggling with it: Noah's Ark Animal Shelter's main air conditioning failed during the hottest stretch of the month. The shelter says a replacement is being installed Monday afternoon and it hopes to be back to normal Tuesday.

Sources

• Lead image: illustration produced for GvilleTX. It shows typical drought and heat-shimmer conditions, not a photograph of Monday in Cooke County.