Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas – As Arctic air surges deep into the Southern Plains through late January and into early February, North Texas is facing a kind of cold that can turn dangerous faster than many residents expect. While temperatures may hover near or just below freezing, strong winds sweeping across open terrain and urban corridors are rapidly accelerating heat loss, creating hazardous wind chill conditions across the region.
According to the National Weather Service, wind chill explains how quickly the human body loses heat when wind strips away the thin layer of warmth that naturally surrounds exposed skin. In North Texas, where cold outbreaks are often paired with gusty north winds, this process can make modest cold feel far more severe, increasing the risk of frostbite and hypothermia even when thermometers don’t look extreme.
Geography plays a key role in how this unfolds locally. Across the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, winds funnel between buildings and along major highways like I-35 and I-20, creating sharp bursts of biting cold during morning and evening hours. Farther west, open landscapes near Wichita Falls and along the Red River allow Arctic air to sweep south with little resistance, prolonging wind-driven exposure. In rural areas and along elevated roadways, steady winds can keep wind chills in the teens or lower for extended periods.
Wind chill does not freeze pipes or vehicles below the actual air temperature, but it freezes people faster. Exposed skin on hands, ears, noses, and faces can develop frostbite in as little as 20 to 30 minutes when wind chills drop into the teens. Children, older adults, outdoor workers, and unhoused populations are especially vulnerable. Pets left outdoors, even with shelter, can lose body heat rapidly in these conditions.
Residents are urged to dress in layers, wear wind-resistant outer clothing, limit time outdoors, and bring pets inside during the coldest periods. With Arctic air expected to linger into early February, additional cold weather advisories and wind chill alerts may be issued as dangerous conditions continue across North Texas.
