Best Time to Visit Dallas: Seasons, Weather and What to Pack

The best time to visit Dallas, Texas, is spring (late March through May) or fall (October into November). Daytime highs at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) average roughly 68 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit in those months, according to National Weather Service (NWS) normals, and the big garden and fair seasons land inside those windows. Summer is hot, winter is mild with the occasional ice day, and spring is also when storms peak.

This guide is season by season, with the numbers from the NWS Fort Worth office and a straight word on each hazard. For today's conditions, use the Dallas weather page.

What is the weather in Dallas by month?

Dallas has a humid subtropical climate, and the NWS 1991-2020 normals for DFW give the clearest picture. Highs run from 56.5 degrees in January to 95.8 degrees in August, and the annual average precipitation is 37.01 inches.

These are the average high, average low and precipitation for each month, from the NWS Fort Worth normals page:

• January: high 56.5, low 36.1, 2.53 inches of precipitation
• February: high 60.9, low 40.1, 2.76 inches
• March: high 68.6, low 47.8, 3.30 inches
• April: high 76.1, low 55.2, 3.22 inches
• May: high 83.6, low 64.5, 4.78 inches
• June: high 91.5, low 72.2, 3.70 inches
• July: high 95.6, low 75.8, 2.08 inches
• August: high 95.8, low 75.7, 2.18 inches
• September: high 88.6, low 68.5, 2.72 inches
• October: high 78.4, low 57.1, 4.37 inches
• November: high 66.6, low 46.2, 2.53 inches
• December: high 57.9, low 38.3, 2.84 inches

Two things stand out. May (4.78 inches) and October (4.37 inches) are the wettest months, because North Texas rainfall comes in a spring peak and a fall peak. And the swing is wide: the NWS lists a DFW record low of minus 8 degrees in February 1899 and a record high of 113 degrees in June 1980. Normals are the middle of the range, not the edges.

What is the best season to visit Dallas?

Fall is our pick, with spring a close second. October and November bring highs from the high 70s down to the mid 60s, cool mornings, and the fair and garden events below.

Spring: late March through May

Spring in Dallas means highs from about 69 in March to about 84 in May, and the city's best color. It is also the main severe weather season, so build in flexibility. See the tornado section below.

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden at 8525 Garland Road in East Dallas runs its Dallas Blooms festival across late winter into spring. The Arboretum's current schedule has it starting in late February and ending in mid-April, but the dates move, so check the Dallas Arboretum site before you book. The Arboretum bills Dallas Blooms as the Southwest's largest annual floral festival, and the gardens sit on the shores of White Rock Lake in East Dallas.

Pack layers, a light rain jacket, and shoes that can take a wet lawn.

Summer: June through early September

Summer in Dallas is hot and built around air conditioning, and July (2.08 inches) is the driest month of the year at DFW. June highs average 91.5 degrees, and July and August average 95.6 and 95.8. The NWS says July and August afternoons are consistently in the 90s and often reach or exceed 100 degrees, and nights stay in the mid 70s.

If you come in summer, do outdoor things before about 10 a.m. or after sunset, and spend the afternoon in a museum. The Dallas Arts District puts several museums within walking distance of each other, and more indoor ideas are in our best things to do in Dallas guide. Bring a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, a hat, and breathable clothing. Never leave a child, a pet or medication in a parked car.

Fall: late September through November

Fall is when Dallas lets people back outside. September still averages an 88.6 degree high, but October drops to 78.4 and November to 66.6, with the heat usually breaking by mid-October. October is also the second-wettest month, so keep a jacket handy.

Three things fill the calendar:

• State Fair of Texas at Fair Park, 3809 Grand Avenue in Dallas. The fair runs for roughly three and a half weeks, from late September to mid-October. Fletcher's corny dogs trace back to 1942, when two brothers started experimenting with a hot dog in cornmeal batter, and the family has served them at the fair for more than 80 years, per Visit Dallas. Ticket prices change every year, so use the official State Fair of Texas site for dates and tickets. Fair Park itself is free to enter outside of ticketed events, per the park's FAQ.
• Autumn at the Arboretum at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The pumpkin season, built around the Arboretum's Pumpkin Village, typically runs from late September to about the end of October. The Arboretum's own pages list exact dates each year, so check dallasarboretum.org first.
• Red River Rivalry, the University of Texas versus University of Oklahoma football game, is played at Cotton Bowl Stadium inside Fair Park during the fair. The State Fair of Texas says the game has been played in the Cotton Bowl since 1929.

Because the fair and the football game overlap, October weekends can be a hard time to find a room and the easiest time to get stuck in traffic around Fair Park. If you want fall color without the crowds, go in early November. Our annual events guide has the full calendar, and the Fair Park area page covers getting there.

The Dallas Arboretum switches to its holiday season in November. Our Thanksgiving in Dallas guide covers late November.

Winter: December through February

Winter in Dallas is mild and short, with average highs of 56 to 61 degrees. The NWS notes that winters are generally mild, with cold fronts that usually bring brief cold spells, and that many winters have little to no measurable snow. The annual normal at DFW is just 1.6 inches of snowfall.

But winter can still disrupt a trip. The NWS says wintry precipitation occurs every winter, though infrequently. Ice is usually a bigger problem than snow, because even a thin glaze makes bridges, overpasses and highways treacherous. If a freezing-rain forecast appears, treat it seriously: delay your drive, check your flight, and expect shops and attractions to close early. Pack a warm coat, gloves, and a real pair of closed shoes, and expect to wear shorts the day after a front passes.

Should you worry about tornadoes in Dallas?

Tornadoes are a real but manageable risk, and they are most likely in spring. The NWS Fort Worth office says thunderstorms and associated severe weather peak in spring, and that large hail, damaging winds, flooding and tornadoes occur nearly every year somewhere in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, though not necessarily at the same spot.

What to do about it:

• Know the difference between a watch (conditions are favourable) and a warning (a tornado is happening or is expected; act now).
• Turn on weather alerts on your phone, and keep your phone charged during spring storms.
• Learn your hotel's shelter plan at check-in. In a warning, go to an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows.
• Follow the NWS Fort Worth forecast office at weather.gov/fwd for local alerts.

Does Dallas flood?

Yes, and flash flooding is the hazard visitors underestimate. The NWS notes that flooding occurs nearly every year, that many Trinity River tributaries converge in the area, and that the river is controlled by dams and levees. Heavy rain on pavement turns low spots and underpasses into traps fast.

The rule is simple: never drive into water covering a road. The NWS Fort Worth flash flood study says flash flooding kills more people each year than any other type of severe weather. Spring and fall are the wettest seasons, so keep that in mind for May and October trips.

How hot does Dallas get?

Very hot in July and August, with average highs near 96 degrees and frequent days at 100 or more. The record at DFW is 113 degrees, set in June 1980. Heat is manageable if you schedule around it: outdoor plans in the morning, indoor plans from noon to 5 p.m., and plenty of water.

If you must see Dallas in summer, the evenings are the reward. The nights stay warm, patios fill up after dark, and the Uptown and Deep Ellum streets are at their liveliest.

When should you book? A Dallas timing cheat sheet

1. Best all-round window: late October through mid-November, for mild highs and fewer storms.
2. Best for gardens: the Dallas Blooms season in late winter to spring, and Autumn at the Arboretum in early fall. Confirm dates on the official site.
3. Best for the State Fair of Texas: go on a weekday and book early, since the fair runs roughly three and a half weeks from late September to mid-October.
4. Best to avoid: July and August afternoons, spring storm days, and any day with an ice forecast.
5. Always pack: layers, a rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, and a phone with weather alerts on.
6. Freeze-free season: the NWS puts the average freeze-free period at March to November, so hard freezes are mostly a December-to-February concern.

How we chose

All climate figures come from the NWS Fort Worth office's 1991-2020 normals and climate narrative for the DFW Airport station. Event details come from each organization's own site, and we avoid quoting exact dates and prices because they change every year. The season recommendations are our own judgment from those numbers.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best month to visit Dallas?

October and early November are our pick, with average highs of 78.4 degrees in October and 66.6 in November, according to NWS normals for DFW. April is a close second for weather and flowers, but it is also in the peak severe storm season.

What is the hottest month in Dallas?

August is the hottest month in Dallas, with an average high of 95.8 degrees at DFW, just ahead of July at 95.6, per NWS 1991-2020 normals. Afternoons in both months often reach or exceed 100 degrees.

When is tornado season in Dallas?

Severe weather in Dallas peaks in spring, according to the NWS Fort Worth office. Tornadoes can happen in other seasons, so sign up for weather alerts and learn your hotel's shelter plan whenever you visit.

Does it snow in Dallas?

Rarely. The NWS normal at DFW is about 1.6 inches of snow a year, and many winters have little or none. Freezing rain and ice are the bigger winter travel risk.

When is the State Fair of Texas?

The State Fair of Texas runs for roughly three and a half weeks at Fair Park in Dallas, from late September to mid-October. Check the official site, bigtex.com, for the exact dates and ticket prices each year.

When are the Dallas Arboretum's seasonal festivals?

Dallas Blooms runs from late winter into spring, and Autumn at the Arboretum typically runs from late September through October. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden at 8525 Garland Road posts the exact dates on its official site.