Introduction
This website began as a personal project to analyze climate trends in Denver, Colorado, where I live. I wanted to understand how global warming was affecting my local area.
After creating the initial Denver climate analysis, I became interested in expanding the project to other regions of the country to compare how different areas are experiencing climate change. This led to the creation of the Dallas climate analysis section, which uses data from the DFW International Airport weather station.
The data for this analysis comes from two primary sources: the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). We use data from 1948 to the present, with the 30 year windows making up the "normal" climate baseline. This is why our plots and statistics begin in 1978, allowing us to compare current conditions against this established baseline.
I found that many climate websites focus on either current weather or future projections, but there were fewer resources showing clear, easy-to-understand visualizations of historical climate trends. By creating these visualizations, I hope to make climate data more accessible and help people understand how their local climate is changing over time.
Temperature Trends in Dallas
Average yearly temperatures in Dallas over the past several decades:
The data shows a clear warming trend in Dallas's humid subtropical climate. While the city is known for its hot summers and mild winters, the overall trajectory shows a significant increase in average temperatures. The plot includes a linear fit for all years from 1948 to present and also includes a linear fit for the last 60 years, showing the temperature trend in degrees per year. These rising temperatures have important implications for Dallas's urban heat island effect, energy demands, and public health, potentially leading to more frequent and intense heat waves and increased cooling requirements during the long summer months.
Precipitation Trends in Dallas
Total yearly precipitation in Dallas over the past several decades:
Dallas's precipitation patterns show notable variations over time. The city's location in North Texas means it experiences a mix of weather patterns, from severe thunderstorms in spring to occasional winter precipitation. The yearly totals can vary significantly, with some years experiencing drought conditions while others see above-average rainfall. This variability is particularly important for the Trinity River watershed and the region's water resources. The data helps us understand how climate change might be affecting the region's characteristic precipitation patterns and what that means for the future of water management in this rapidly growing metropolitan area.