By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio is no stranger to hot weather, but it usually arrives later in the year.
According to the National Weather Service, Del Rio set a daily high temperature record Saturday and tied a record Sunday.
The mercury reached 98 degrees Saturday, breaking a record that had stood for more than a century, according to the NWS climate summary for Del Rio.
The previous record of 93 degrees for March 21 was set in 1907 and later tied in 1916 and 2010. The normal high temperature for the date is 82 degrees.
It didn’t get quite as hot Sunday, but the high of 96 degrees, recorded at 4:27 p.m., was enough to match the record for March 22, the NWS said.
That record was first set in 1968 and later tied in 1995.
The 830 Times reached out to Del Rio meteorologist Dan Schreiber to ask why the weather turned so warm so early in the year.
Schreiber said the heat is largely due to a jet stream pattern more typical of summer.
“The recent heat is largely due to the jet stream oriented in a ridging pattern over the northern U.S. and Canada,” Schreiber said. “Additionally, the relatively low humidity in Del Rio makes it easier to heat up faster under sunny skies.”
He added that while the temperatures are notable, they are not unprecedented.
“While the heat is notable, it isn’t necessarily unheard of for March in Del Rio,” Schreiber said. “For example, 100-degree temperatures have been reached in Del Rio during March dating back to 1908. The last time 100 degrees was reached in March was in 1971, though we hit 99 degrees on March 2, 2023.”
Schreiber also noted that spring weather in the Southern Plains can change quickly.
“While it is currently hot out, it isn’t summer yet, and springtime weather patterns in the Southern Plains can be very volatile — hot one day and cool the next, sometimes ushered in by severe weather,” he said. “Being prepared for both warm and cool weather is always a challenge this time of year.”
The NWS forecast calls for a slight cooling trend over the next seven days, with next weekend’s high temperatures expected to be in the mid-70s to low 80s.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
