What happened this week?
This week brought a very frustrating forecast to North Texas, leading to a wide variety of temperatures across the region. For some, the forecast was spot on, while for others, it was off-track. Why? The culprit is an oscillating front.
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WATCH HEREIn simple terms, an oscillating front is one that shifts back and forth over a specific area, bringing with it alternating airmasses—like warm, humid air or cool, dry air. An oscillating cold front will move south, then stall, only to retreat back north as a warm front, causing a shift from cool to warm temperatures. This back-and-forth movement can lead to a significant temperature difference in North Texas, with readings varying from the 50s and low 60s to nearly 80 degrees.
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SIGN UP The challenge in forecasting this is trying to predict three key factors:
- How far the colder air from the cold front will reach.
- When the front will retreat north, allowing us to warm up.
- Which areas will experience the warm-up by the end of the day.
This is why forecasts can sometimes miss the mark!
What's coming next?
This weekend will bring what we like to call the "tale of two seasons." On Saturday, spring-like is expected to bring near-record warmth, with a forecast high of 84 degrees, just shy of the record of 85 degrees set in 1962.
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Temperatures will tumble on Sunday, with a final push of cold air arriving by the end of the weekend. High temperatures on Sunday will only climb into the upper 40s and low 50s.
As we move into the start of next week, you'll need the umbrella again. Showers are expected with below-normal temperatures.
