[REVISION HISTORY]

Texas heat wave and wildfire risk 2026

Updated 13 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-06 14:32 UTC → 2026-09-10 11:31 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The July–August 2026 Texas heat wave has persisted, with daily highs frequently exceeding 100°F. By mid-August, major metropolitan areas continued to face intense heat. In Houston, high humidity was expected to push the heat index to approximately 109°F, while Dallas and Austin faced temperatures up to 102°F. As of August 17, a heat dome settled over the region, with temperatures in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex reaching 107°F. Extreme heat and dry conditions significantly increased wildfire danger. By August 19, rising drought levels prompted further restrictions; Smith County issued a 90-day ban after the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) reached 661, and Comal County reinstated a ban for unincorporated areas following a KBDI of 553. By August 28, burn bans expanded to cover 200 of the state’s 254 counties. In the Texas Panhandle, the National Weather Service warned that heat risks could escalate from “moderate-to-major” to “major-to-extreme” by late August. As the heat dome returned toward the end of August, the National Weather Service in Amarillo warned that Panhandle temperatures could reach 107°F by Sunday, with risks escalating to “major-to-extreme.” While scattered thunderstorms offered brief relief in the Hill Country, South Central, and Southeast Texas, rain chances diminished quickly. Fire danger remained high to very high across eastern Texas. By the first weekend of September, high temperatures continued across major cities. Dallas reached 100°F with a heat index of approximately 108°F, while Austin saw highs of 99°F. San Antonio reported highs of approximately 93°F, with potential storms forecasted for the following day. By September 9, the Dallas-Fort Worth area entered a period of historic drought and extreme late-summer heat. Temperatures at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport were expected to reach 101°F, marking the 45th day of triple-digit heat for the year, which ranks ninth on record for the region.

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