Wide weather this weekend to North Texas-NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

What happened this week?

This week brought a very frustrating forecast to North Texas, which led to a wide range of temperatures throughout the region. For some, the forecast was spot on, while for others it was off-track. Why? The culprit is a swinging front.

Simply put, a swinging front is one that changes back and forth over a specific area, causing alternating air masses – such as warm, humid air or cool, dry air. A swinging cold front will move south, then stall, only to retreat north as a hot front, causing a shift from cool to hot temperatures. This back and forth movement can lead to a significant temperature difference in North-Texas, with readings that vary from the 50s and make 60s to almost 80 degrees.

The challenge of predicting this is trying to predict three key factors:

1. How far the colder air from the cold front will reach out.
2. When the front pulls north so we can warm up.
3. Which areas will experience the heating at the end of the day.

This is why forecasts can sometimes miss the brand!

What’s coming next?

This weekend brings what we like to call “the story of two seasons.” On Saturday, spring-like to bring near-record heat with an expected height of 84 degrees, just shy for the record of 85 degrees set in 1962.

Temperatures are tumbling on Sunday, with one last push of cold air arriving at the end of the weekend. High temperatures on Sunday will only climb into the top 40s and make 50s.

When we move in at the start of next week, you need the umbrella again. Showers are expected with under-normal temperatures.