North Texas summers are no picnic. Now, as the World Cup comes to the region, there’s a chance the forecast could be for an especially hot season.
While temperatures in June are expected to remain within normal ranges, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is forecasting a 40% probability of a slightly warmer than average July in Tarrant County.
“The likelihood of a warmer-than-normal summer is not particularly high,” said Yunyao Li, University of Texas at Arlington assistant professor of earth and environmental sciences.
Historically, Fort Worth’s summer highs average over 90 degrees.
Games take place in Arlington between June 14 and July 14.
For international visitors coming to Tarrant County who may not be accustomed to Texas summers, Erik Ledig, an emergency room physician at Texas Health Resources, recommends self-awareness.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include fatigue, dizziness, weakness, nausea and vomiting, Ledig said.
“Having somebody else with you to notice those signs is also a recommendation,” Ledig noted. “When you start feeling those signs, know to get into an (air conditioned) environment and hydrate yourself.”
Those signs may point to several types of heat illness.
The more severe is heat stroke, which can occur when your body temperature rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Accompanying symptoms may include confusion and seizures. This is a medical emergency that requires early and aggressive treatment, Ledig said.
Other heat illnesses can include cramps, rash, passing out and swelling in the extremities.
The summer forecast: Hot and stormy
Ahead of those nine matches and warmer than normal temperatures, experts at UTA are working with the North Central Texas Council of Governments — the local metropolitan planning agency — to learn what regional environmental conditions will look like during the World Cup.
That will involve deploying monitors to collect data on humidity levels, air quality, and temperatures, Li said.
North Texas’ growing urban heat island can contribute to warmer temperatures, said Li and Arne Winguth, UT Arlington earth and environmental sciences department chair and assistant professor.
However, wet and windy conditions will mitigate the heat, Li said.
“High wind speed here will reduce urban heat island effects,” Li said.
The weather phenomenon El Niño typically reaches its max intensity during winter months.
El Niño is a global climate pattern that occurs, on average, every two to seven years, according to the National Ocean Service.
Typically lasting between nine to 12 months, the climate phenomenon occurs when warmer than usual waters and winds cause the Pacific jet stream to move south, leading to more rainfall and flooding.
This year, El Niño is predicted to peak May through July, bringing wetter conditions to North Texas.
However, impact on the weather can be complex as North Texans feel the transition from La Niña, which occurred earlier this year, to El Niño this summer, Li said.
Unlike El Niño, La Niña occurs when warm winds moving westward lead to drier and warmer conditions in the southern United States.
Also, rapid development along Interstate 20 in Tarrant County has largely contributed to increased heat, Winguth said. I-20 is about 6 miles south of AT&T Stadium.
The effect happens when large cities and metropolitan areas experience higher temperatures than nearby rural areas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Buildings, roads and other infrastructure absorb and reemit the sun’s heat more than natural areas, such as green spaces or lakes.
Daytime temperatures in densely developed areas experience temperatures ranging between 1 to 7 degrees higher than untouched landscapes, according to the EPA.
However, urban heat can vary, Winguth said.
Suburban areas that still have green landscapes experience urban heat less than downtown or industrial sites, he explained. Highly reflective buildings or surfaces are highly reflective, absorbing significantly less heat than a dark building, Winguth said.
How to stay safe in high temperatures
The best way to prepare for heat is to spend time outside in it — for an hour for the first week or two, and then for two hours — to help your body adjust, Ledig said.
“You need to be doing the other things as well, but that acclimatization will help you endure great heats better than people who are not prepared for it,” he said.
Ledig added that hydration — including consuming drinks with electrolytes if you spend more than an hour in hot temperatures — limiting strenuous activity in high heat and wearing light-colored and loose clothing are ways to keep yourself safe. Ledig also noted that alcohol is best consumed in climate-controlled environments during the heat of the summer, as it dehydrates you.
People with cardiovascular conditions, obesity, diabetes, kidney issues or who are 65 and older are among those at higher risk. Also, Ledig encourages people to seek help when symptoms of heat illness emerge.
While visitors explore North Texas outside of AT&T Stadium, Winguth recommends that tourists and visitors closely follow forecasts and heat warnings issued by the National Weather Service to stay cool.
For information about high temperatures, how they’re affected by humidity and their health risks, visit the National Weather Service’s heat index chart.
Editor’s note: This story was updated June 3, 2026, to reflect mitigating effects of wind and rain on the summer forecast.
McKinnon Rice is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Her position is supported by a grant from Texas Health Resources. Contact her at mckinnon.rice@fortworthreport.org.
Nicole Lopez is the environment reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at nicole.lopez@fortworthreport.org.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
