Dallas sits inland in north-central Texas, on the rolling prairies well away from the coast at around 130–170 metres elevation, at approximately 32.78°N, 96.80°W. It has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) at the drier, more continental northern edge of the zone, with long, very hot summers and mild but variable winters, and it lies within the reach of the severe storms of 'Tornado Alley'.

Summer, from June to September, is long, hot and drier than the Gulf Coast, with July and August the hottest months — average highs around 35–36°C and frequent spells above 38°C, sometimes for many consecutive days. Its inland position makes the heat less humid than Houston's but more intense, with long rainless stretches. Late summer is often the driest time, when the prairie can bake under relentless sun.

Winter, from December to February, is mild but changeable, with January the coolest month — average highs around 13°C and lows near 2°C. Sharp cold snaps can sweep down from the plains, bringing frost, ice storms and the occasional snow, and its inland position makes these cold outbreaks more pronounced than on the coast — the exceptional freeze of February 2021 was a dramatic example. Warm spells alternate with these cold intrusions.

Dallas receives around 950–990 mm of rain a year, less than the Gulf Coast, with distinct peaks in spring and autumn — May is typically the wettest month — and a drier mid- to late summer. Spring rain often comes with intense, sometimes severe thunderstorms. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Dallas sits within 'Tornado Alley', and spring is its most volatile season, when clashing air masses spawn powerful thunderstorms that can bring large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes. Its inland position gives it a wider temperature range than coastal Texas — hotter, drier summers and sharper winter cold snaps — with the memorable February 2021 freeze showing how severe those cold intrusions can occasionally become.

To follow any single measurement in Dallas more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.