Editing Dallas (section)

==Geography==
[[File:The Crescent Uptown Dallas.jpg|thumb|right|[[Uptown Dallas]] with [[Downtown Dallas]] on the end]]
[[File:Dallas bridge skyline.jpg|thumb|Named after a Dallas philanthropist, the [[Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge]] spans the [[Trinity River (Texas)|Trinity River]].]]
Dallas is situated in the [[Southern United States]], in [[North Texas]]. It is the [[county seat]] of [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas County]] and portions of the city extend into neighboring [[Collin County, Texas|Collin]], [[Denton County, Texas|Denton]], [[Kaufman County, Texas|Kaufman]], and [[Rockwall County, Texas|Rockwall]] counties. Many suburbs surround Dallas; three [[enclave]]s are within the city boundaries—[[Cockrell Hill, Texas|Cockrell Hill]], [[Highland Park, Texas|Highland Park]], and [[University Park, Texas|University Park]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|999.3|km2|order=flip}}; {{convert|881.9|km2|order=flip}} of Dallas is land and {{convert|117.4|km2|order=flip}} of it (11.75%) is water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/dallascitytexas/PST045217|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Dallas city, Texas|website=Census Bureau QuickFacts|language=en-US|access-date=November 19, 2018}}</ref> Dallas makes up one-fifth of the much larger urbanized area known as the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]], in which one quarter of all Texans live.

===Architecture===
{{See also|List of Dallas Landmarks|List of tallest buildings in Dallas}}
[[File:Downtown_skyline_from_the_design_district.jpg|thumb|Dallas skyline with [[Downtown Dallas]] in the background and [[Victory Park, Dallas|Victory Park]] and [[Uptown Dallas]] in the foreground (early 2022)]]

Dallas's skyline has twenty buildings classified as [[skyscraper]]s, over {{convert|150|m|order=flip}} in height.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Skyscraper Center: Dallas, Texas|url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/compare-data/submit?base_city=1554&base_company=All&base_country=0&base_height_range=0&base_max_year=9999&base_min_year=0&base_region=0&comp_city=0&comp_company=All&comp_country=0&comp_height_range=3&comp_max_year=2018&comp_min_year=1960&comp_region=0&dataSubmit=Show%20Results&output%5B%5D=list&skip_comparison=on&status%5B%5D=COM&type%5B%5D=building|access-date=September 16, 2020|website=Skyscrapercenter.com}}</ref> Despite its tallest building not reaching {{convert|300|m|order=flip}}, Dallas does have a signature building in [[Bank of America Plaza (Dallas)|Bank of America Plaza]] which is lit up in neon but falls outside the top two hundred tallest buildings in the world. Although some of Dallas's architecture dates from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most of the notable architecture in the city is from the [[modern architecture|modernist]] and [[postmodern architecture|postmodernist]] eras. Iconic examples of modernist architecture include [[Reunion Tower]], the [[John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial]], [[I. M. Pei]]'s [[Dallas City Hall]] and the [[Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 5, 2020|title=Architect of Fountain Place who shaped Dallas, dies at 93|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/architecture/2020/03/05/architect-of-fountain-place-who-shaped-dallas-dies-at-93/|access-date=September 16, 2020|website=Dallas News|language=en}}</ref> Good examples of postmodernist skyscrapers are [[Fountain Place]], [[Bank of America Plaza (Dallas)|Bank of America Plaza]], [[Renaissance Tower (Dallas)|Renaissance Tower]], [[JPMorgan Chase Tower (Dallas)|JPMorgan Chase Tower]], and [[Comerica Bank Tower]]. [[Downtown Dallas]] also has residential offerings in downtown, some of which are signature skyline buildings.

Several smaller structures are fashioned in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style, such as the [[Kirby Building]], and the [[neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] style, as seen in the [[Davis Building (Dallas, Texas)|Davis]] and [[Wilson Building (Dallas, Texas)|Wilson]] Buildings. One architectural "hotbed" in the city is a stretch of historic houses along [[Swiss Avenue]], which has all shades and variants of architecture from [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] to neoclassical.<ref>[http://www.swissavenue.com/index.asp Swissavenue.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060703014046/http://www.swissavenue.com/index.asp |date=July 3, 2006 }} – Retrieved June 13, 2006.{{cite web|url=http://swissavenue.com/index.asp |title=Swiss Avenue |access-date=October 21, 2010 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207024307/http://swissavenue.com/index.asp <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=February 7, 2006}}</ref> The [[Dallas Downtown Historic District]] protects a cross-section of Dallas commercial architecture from the 1880s to the 1940s.

===Neighborhoods===
{{See also|List of neighborhoods in Dallas}}The city of Dallas is home to many areas, neighborhoods, and communities. Dallas can be divided into several geographical areas which include larger geographical sections of territory including many subdivisions or neighborhoods, forming macroneighborhoods.

====Central Dallas====
Central Dallas is anchored by Downtown Dallas, the center of the city, along with [[Oak Lawn, Dallas|Oak Lawn]] and [[Uptown Dallas|Uptown]], areas characterized by dense retail, restaurants, and nightlife.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Knightengale|first=Krista|title=Downtown Dallas|url=https://neighborhoods.dmagazine.com/dallas/central-dallas/downtown/|access-date=September 16, 2020|website=D Magazine Neighborhoods|language=en}}</ref> Downtown Dallas has a variety of named districts, including the [[West End, Dallas|West End Historic District]], the [[Arts District, Dallas|Arts District]], the [[Main Street, Dallas|Main Street District]], [[Farmers Market, Dallas|Farmers Market District]], the [[City Center District, Dallas|City Center Business District]], the [[Convention Center District, Dallas|Convention Center District]], and the [[Reunion, Dallas|Reunion District]]. This area includes Uptown, [[Victory Park, Dallas, Texas|Victory Park]], Harwood, Oak Lawn, [[the Design District Dallas, Texas|Dallas Design District]], [[Trinity Groves, Dallas|Trinity Groves]], [[Turtle Creek, Dallas|Turtle Creek]], [[Cityplace, Dallas|Cityplace]], [[Knox Park, Dallas|Knox/Henderson]], [[Lower Greenville, Dallas|Greenville]], and [[West Village, Dallas|West Village]].

====East Dallas====
[[East Dallas]] is the location of [[Deep Ellum]], an arts area close to Downtown, the [[Lakewood, Dallas|Lakewood]] neighborhood (and adjacent areas, including [[Lakewood Heights, Dallas|Lakewood Heights]], [[Wilshire Heights, Dallas|Wilshire Heights]], [[Lower Greenville, Dallas|Lower Greenville]], [[Junius Heights, Dallas|Junius Heights]], and [[Hollywood Heights, Dallas|Hollywood Heights/Santa Monica]]), [[Vickery Place]] and [[Bryan Place]], and the architecturally significant neighborhoods of Swiss Avenue and [[Munger Place]]. Its historic district has one of the largest collections of [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]-inspired [[Frank Lloyd Wright#Prairie Style houses (1900–1914)|prairie-style]] homes in the United States. In the northeast quadrant of the city is [[Lake Highlands]], one of Dallas's most unified middle-class neighborhoods.<ref name="lhaia">[http://www.lhaia.org/ Lake Highlands Area Improvement Association] – [http://www.lhaia.org/images/Map_March2006big.jpg Map]. Retrieved October 3, 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811043858/http://www.lhaia.org/ |date=August 11, 2015 }}</ref>

====Oak Cliff====
[[File:Oak Cliff September 2016 51 (Dallas Streetcar).jpg|thumb|right|[[Oak Cliff]] area with its [[Dallas Streetcar]] and Downtown Dallas on the end]]
Southwest of Downtown lies [[Oak Cliff]]. Once a separate city founded in the mid-1800s, Oak Cliff was annexed in 1903 by Dallas.<ref>[http://www.oakcliff.com/history.htm Oak Cliff, Texas – Early History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529053801/http://www.oakcliff.com/history.htm |date=May 29, 2008 }}. Retrieved August 1, 2008.</ref> As one of the oldest areas in Dallas, the hilly North Oak Cliff is home to 5 of the 13 conservation districts in Dallas including the architecturally significant [[Kessler, Dallas|Kessler Park]] neighborhood and trendy [[Bishop Arts District, Dallas|Bishop Arts District]].

====South Dallas====
[[South Dallas]] is the location of [[Cedars, Dallas|Cedars]], and [[Fair Park]], where the annual [[State Fair of Texas]] is held from late September through mid-October.  Also located here is [[Exposition Park, Dallas]], noted for having artists, art galleries, and bars along tree-lined Exposition Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Things To Do in Dallas: Find Dallas Events & Attractions: GuideLive|url = http://www.guidelive.com/hubs/state-fair|website = GuideLive|access-date = September 9, 2015|archive-date = September 10, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150910021549/http://www.guidelive.com/hubs/state-fair|url-status = dead}}</ref>

South Side Dallas is a popular location for nightly entertainment. The neighborhood has undergone extensive development and community integration. What was once an area characterized by high rates of poverty and crime is now one of the city's most attractive social and living destinations.<ref>{{bulletlist|{{Cite news | url = http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2004/dallas/dallas.html | title = Dallas at the Tipping Point: A Roadmap for Renewal | newspaper = [[The Dallas Morning News]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070204051138/http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2004/dallas/dallas.html | archive-date = February 4, 2007 | url-status = dead}}|{{Cite news | url = https://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2004/dallas/crime2.html | title = Dallas at the Tipping Point Going South: Costs of Crime | first = Tanya | last = Eiserer | date = 2004 | newspaper = [[The Dallas Morning News]] | access-date = October 25, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061219042548/https://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2004/dallas/crime2.html | archive-date = December 19, 2006 | url-status = dead}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 25, 2018|title=Six Years Into GrowSouth, Developers Are Starting To Pay Attention To Southern Dallas|url=https://www.keranews.org/news/2018-05-25/six-years-into-growsouth-developers-are-starting-to-pay-attention-to-southern-dallas|access-date=September 16, 2020|website=KERA News|language=en}}</ref>

Further east, in the southeast quadrant of the city, is the large neighborhood of [[Pleasant Grove, Dallas|Pleasant Grove]]. Once an independent city, it is a collection of mostly lower-income residential areas stretching to [[Seagoville, Texas|Seagoville]] in the southeast. Though a city neighborhood, Pleasant Grove is surrounded by undeveloped land on all sides. Swampland and wetlands separating it from South Dallas are part of the [[Great Trinity Forest]],<ref name="The Great Trinity Forest-Dallas">{{cite web
 |title=The Great Trinity Forest-Dallas
 |work=The Great Trinity Forest
 |publisher=City of Dallas Trinity River Corridor Project
 |access-date=September 12, 2009 |url=http://www.trinityrivercorridor.org/html/great_trinity_forest.html
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116152340/http://www.trinityrivercorridor.org/html/great_trinity_forest.html
 |archive-date=January 16, 2009 }}</ref> a subsection of the city's [[Trinity River Project]], newly appreciated for habitat and [[flood control]].

===Districts===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Bishop Arts District, Dallas|Bishop Arts District]]	
* [[Casa Linda Estates, Dallas|Casa Linda]] 
* [[Casa View, Dallas|Casa View]]
* [[Cedars, Dallas|Cedars]]
* [[Deep Ellum, Dallas|Deep Ellum]]
* [[Design District, Dallas|Design District]]
* [[Downtown Dallas|Downtown]]
* [[Exposition Park, Dallas|Exposition Park]]
* [[Fair Park]]
* [[Highland Hills, Dallas|Highland Hills]]
* [[Kessler, Dallas|Kessler]]	
* [[Knox Park, Dallas|Knox-Henderson]]
* [[Lakewood, Dallas|Lakewood]]
* [[Lake Highlands]]
* [[Lower Greenville, Dallas|Lower Greenville]]
* [[Greenland Hills, Dallas|"M" Streets]]
* [[Oak Cliff]]	
* [[Oak Lawn, Dallas|Oak Lawn]]	
* [[Park Cities, Texas|Park Cities]]
* [[Pleasant Grove, Dallas|Pleasant Grove]]
* [[Preston Hollow, Dallas|Preston Hollow]]
* [[Southwestern Medical District]]
* [[Trinity Groves, Dallas|Trinity Groves]]
* [[Turtle Creek, Dallas|Turtle Creek]]	
* [[Uptown, Dallas|Uptown]]
* [[Victory Park, Dallas|Victory Park]]
* [[West End Historic District (Dallas)|West End]]
{{div col end}}
{{Wide image|Downtown Dallas WV banner.jpg|1200px|align-cap=center|Skyline of Dallas at night}}
=== Topography ===
[[File:Downtown Dallas TX 2013-06-08 087.jpg|thumb|right|[[West End Historic District (Dallas)|West End Historic District]]]]

[[File:ISS067-E-170869 Dallas.jpg|thumb|Dallas on July 1, 2022, with north oriented down and to the left. Taken during [[Expedition 67]] of the International Space Station.]]
[[File:White Rock Lake.jpg|thumb|right|[[White Rock Lake]] and the [[Bath House Cultural Center]]]]

{{Main|Geology of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex}}
Dallas and its surrounding area are mostly flat. The city lies at elevations ranging from {{convert|450|to|550|ft|m|0}} above sea level. The western edge of the Austin Chalk Formation, a [[limestone]] [[escarpment]] (also known as the "White Rock Escarpment"), rises {{convert|230|ft|m|0}} and runs roughly north–south through Dallas County. South of the [[Trinity River (Texas)|Trinity River]], the uplift is particularly noticeable in the neighborhoods of Oak Cliff and the adjacent cities of Cockrell Hill, [[Cedar Hill, Texas|Cedar Hill]], [[Grand Prairie, Texas|Grand Prairie]], and [[Irving, Texas|Irving]]. Marked variations in terrain are also found in cities immediately to the west in [[Tarrant County, Texas|Tarrant County]] surrounding Fort Worth, as well as along Turtle Creek north of Downtown.

Dallas, like many other cities, was founded along a river. The city was founded at the location of a "white rock crossing" of the Trinity River, where it was easier for wagons to cross the river in the days before ferries or bridges. The Trinity River, though not usefully navigable, is the major waterway through the city. [[Interstate 35E (Texas)|Interstate 35E]] parallels its path through Dallas along the [[Stemmons Corridor]], then south alongside the western portion of Downtown and past South Dallas and Pleasant Grove, where the river is paralleled by [[Interstate 45 (Texas)|Interstate 45]] until it exits the city and heads southeast towards [[Houston]]. The river is flanked on both sides by {{convert|50|ft|m|0}} tall earthen [[levee]]s to protect the city from frequent floods.<ref>{{cite web|author=John N. Furlong |author2=Greg Ajemian |author3=Tommie McPherson |year=2003 |title=History of the Dallas Floodway |url=http://www.trinityrivercorridor.org/pdf/DallasFloodwayHistoryPaper.pdf |access-date=August 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325122856/http://www.trinityrivercorridor.org/pdf/DallasFloodwayHistoryPaper.pdf |archive-date=March 25, 2009 }}</ref>

Since it was rerouted in the late 1920s, the river has been little more than a [[drainage ditch]] within a floodplain for several miles above and below Downtown, with a more normal course further upstream and downstream, but as Dallas began shifting towards postindustrial society, public outcry about the lack of aesthetic and recreational use of the river ultimately gave way to the [[Trinity River Project]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Discover The Trinity-Dallas |work=Discover The Trinity |publisher=Discoverthetrinity.org |access-date=September 12, 2009 |url=http://www.discoverthetrinity.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925092304/http://www.discoverthetrinity.org/ |archive-date=September 25, 2009 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> which was begun in the early 2000s.

The project area reaches for over {{convert|20|mi|km}} in length within the city, while the overall geographical land area addressed by the Land Use Plan is approximately {{convert|44000|acre|km2}} in size—about 20% of the land area in Dallas. Green space along the river encompasses approximately {{convert|10000|acre|km2}}, making it one of the largest and diverse urban parks in the world.<ref>{{cite web|author=Trinity River Corridor Project Management Office |title=Trinity River Corridor Project Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.trinityrivercorridor.org/html/faqs.html |access-date=October 19, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061011061245/http://www.trinityrivercorridor.org/html/faqs.html |archive-date=October 11, 2006 }}</ref>

[[White Rock Lake]] and [[Joe Pool Lake]] are reservoirs that comprise Dallas's other significant water features. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, White Rock Lake Park is a popular destination for boaters, rowers, joggers, and bikers, as well as visitors seeking peaceful respite from the city at the {{convert|66|acre|m2|-3|adj=on}} [[Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden]], on the lake's eastern shore. [[White Rock Creek]] feeds into White Rock Lake and then exits into the Trinity River southeast of Downtown Dallas. Trails along White Rock Creek are part of the extensive Dallas County Trails System.

[[Bachman Lake]], just northwest of [[Dallas Love Field|Love Field Airport]], is a smaller lake also popularly used for recreation. Northeast of the city is [[Lake Ray Hubbard]], a vast {{convert|22745|acre|km2|0|adj=on}} reservoir in an extension of Dallas surrounded by the suburbs of [[Garland, Texas|Garland]], [[Rowlett, Texas|Rowlett]], [[Rockwall, Texas|Rockwall]], and [[Sunnyvale, Texas|Sunnyvale]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Bobby Farquhar and Mark McDonald |title=Lake Ray Hubbard |url=http://www.rtis.com/reg/lakes/rayhubba.htm |work=Set the Hook Guide to Lone Star Lakes and Lunkers |access-date=August 5, 2009 |archive-date=June 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606090611/http://www.rtis.com/reg/lakes/rayhubba.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> To the west of the city is [[Mountain Creek Lake]], once home to the [[Naval Air Station Dallas]] ([[Hensley Field]]) and a number of defense aircraft manufacturers.<ref>{{cite gnis|1342165|Mountain Creek Lake|Jan 10, 2024}}</ref><ref name="handbook">{{Handbook of Texas|id=qbn02|name=Naval Air Station, Dallas}}</ref>
[[North Lake (Dallas County, Texas)|North Lake]], a small body of water in an extension of the city limits surrounded by Irving and [[Coppell, Texas|Coppell]], initially served as a water source for a nearby power plant but is now being targeted for redevelopment as a recreational lake due to its proximity to [[Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], a plan the lake's neighboring cities oppose.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aasen |first=Eric |date=May 18, 2005 |title=Foes say North Lake development a threat to lifestyle |newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |place=Coppell }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Dallas}}

{{climate chart
|Dallas, Texas
|37.9|57.7|2.59
|41.9|62.0|2.78
|49.4|69.9|3.45
|56.8|77.4|3.15
|66.0|84.9|4.57
|73.8|92.7|3.83
|77.7|96.9|1.71
|77.4|97.1|2.19
|70.1|90.0|3.10
|58.7|79.5|4.79
|47.8|67.8|2.93
|39.8|59.2|3.23
|float=right
|clear=both
|units=imperial
|source=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="Dallas Weatherbox NOAA txt" />
}}

Dallas has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Cfa'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''Cfhk'') characteristic of the [[Great Plains|Southern Plains]] of the United States. It also has both continental and tropical characteristics, characterized by a relatively wide annual temperature range for the latitude. Located at the lower end of [[Tornado Alley]], it is prone to extreme weather, tornadoes, and hailstorms.

Summers in Dallas are very hot with high humidity, although extended periods of dry weather often occur. July and August are typically the hottest months, with an average high of {{convert|96.0|°F|°C|0|lk=on}} and an average low of {{convert|76.7|°F|°C|0}}. Heat indices regularly surpass {{convert|105|°F|°C|0}} due to elevated humidity during the summer months, making the summer heat almost unbearable. The all-time record high is {{convert|113|°F|0}}, set on June 26 and 27, 1980 during the [[Heat Wave of 1980]] at nearby [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]].<ref name="NOAA Online" /><ref name="NWS Records">{{cite web|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/?n=dgr8mxmn|title=Dallas/Fort Worth – All-Time Maximum and Minimum Temperatures|publisher=National Weather Service Fort Worth|access-date=December 5, 2011}}</ref>

Winters in Dallas are usually mild, with occasional cold spells. The average date of first frost is November 12, and the average date of last frost is March 12.<ref>"[https://www.weather.gov/fwd/d32info DFW – Freeze Summary]". ''National Weather Service''. Retrieved November 2, 2018.</ref> January is typically the coldest month, with an average daytime high of {{convert|56.8|°F|°C|0}} and an average nighttime low of {{convert|37.3|°F|°C|0}}. The normal daily average temperature in January is {{convert|47.0|°F|0}} but sharp swings in temperature can occur, as strong cold fronts known as "[[Texas Norther|Blue Norther]]s" pass through the Dallas region, forcing temperatures below the {{convert|40|°F|0}} mark for several days at a time and often between days with high temperatures above {{convert|80|°F|0}}. Snow accumulation is seen in the city in about 70% of winter seasons, and snowfall generally occurs 1–2 days out of the year for a seasonal average of {{convert|1.5|in|cm|0}}. Some areas in the region, however, receive more than that, while other areas receive negligible snowfall or none at all.<ref>[http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/CLIMO/dfw/normals/dfwann.html DFW Climate]. Retrieved on March 26, 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010041657/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/fwd/CLIMO/dfw/normals/dfwann.html |date=October 10, 2008 }}</ref> The all-time record low temperature within the city is {{convert|-10|°F|°C|0}}, set on February 12, 1899 during the [[Great Blizzard of 1899]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-01 |title=February 1899 |url=https://www.weather.gov/fwd/feb1899 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=National Weather Service, Fort Worth}}</ref>  The temperature at nearby [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]] reached {{convert|-2|°F|°C|0}} on February 16, 2021, during [[February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm|the February 2021 North American winter storm]].

Spring and autumn are transitional seasons with moderate and pleasant weather. Vibrant [[wildflower]]s (such as the [[bluebonnet (plant)|bluebonnet]], [[Castilleja|Indian paintbrush]] and other [[flora (plants)|flora]]) bloom in spring and are planted around the highways throughout Texas.<ref>[http://www.dot.state.tx.us/ TXDOT] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812041600/http://www.dot.state.tx.us/ |date=August 12, 2007 }} – [http://www.dot.state.tx.us/travel/flora_conditions.htm Wildflower and Fall Foliage] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070408190352/http://www.dot.state.tx.us/travel/flora_conditions.htm |date=April 8, 2007 }}</ref> Springtime weather can be [[severe weather|quite volatile]], but temperatures themselves are mild. Late spring to early summer also tends to be the most humid, with humidity levels frequently exceeding 75%. The weather in Dallas is also generally pleasant from late September to early December and on many winter days. Autumn often brings more storms and tornado threats, but they are usually fewer and less severe than in spring.
[[File:Dusk view of the skyline, Dallas, Texas LCCN2011631144.tif|thumb|right|[[Sunset]] in Downtown Dallas]]
Each spring, cold fronts moving south from the North collide with warm, humid air streaming in from the [[Gulf Coast]], leading to severe [[thunderstorm]]s with [[lightning]], torrents of rain, [[hail]], and occasionally, [[tornado]]es. Over time, tornadoes have probably been the most significant natural threat to the city, as it is near the heart of [[Tornado Alley]].

A few times each winter in Dallas, warm and humid air from the south will override cold, dry air, resulting in [[freezing rain]] or ice and causing disruptions in the city if the roads and highways become slick. Temperatures reaching {{convert|70|°F|0}} on average occur on at least four days each winter month. Dallas averages 26 annual nights at or below freezing,<ref name="NOAA Online">{{cite web|url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=fwd|title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]|access-date = November 30, 2012|archive-date = May 14, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210514013416/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=fwd|url-status = dead}}</ref> with the winter of 1999–2000 holding the record for the fewest freezing nights with 14. During this same span of 15 years,{{specify|date=August 2013}} the temperature in the region has only twice dropped below {{convert|15|°F|°C|0}}, though it will generally fall below {{convert|20|°F|0}} in most (67%) years.<ref name="NOAA Online" />

The [[USDA|U.S. Department of Agriculture]] places Dallas in [[USDA plant hardiness zone|Plant Hardiness Zone 8b]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-texas-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php |title=Texas USDA Hardiness Zone Map |access-date=November 28, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Ramon |last=Jordan |url=http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-sm1.html |title=Plant Hardiness Zone Map: South-Midwest US |publisher=Usna.usda.gov |date=January 24, 2012 |access-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-date=May 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514085928/http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-sm1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, mild winter temperatures in the past 15 to 20 years had encouraged the horticulture of more cold-sensitive plants such as ''[[Washingtonia filifera]]'' and ''[[Washingtonia robusta]]'' [[palm tree|palms]], nearly all of which died off during [[February 13–17, 2021 North American winter storm|the February 2021 North American winter storm]]. According to the [[American Lung Association]], Dallas has the 12th highest air pollution among U.S. cities, ranking it behind Los Angeles and [[Houston]].<ref>[http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=50752#graph6 Lungusa.com]. Retrieved on March 2, 2006. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529071113/http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=50752 |date=May 29, 2009 }}</ref> Much of the air pollution in Dallas and the surrounding area comes from a hazardous materials incineration plant in the small town of [[Midlothian, Texas|Midlothian]] and from cement plants in neighboring [[Ellis County, Texas|Ellis County]].<ref>[http://www.downwindersatrisk.org/ Downwindersatrisk.org] – [http://www.downwindersatrisk.org/DownwindersAtRisk-MovingToMidlothian.htm Pollution in Midlothian]. Retrieved on April 17, 2006. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810122236/http://www.downwindersatrisk.org/ |date=August 10, 2015 }}</ref>

The average daily low in Dallas is {{convert|57.4|°F|°C|0}}, and the average daily high is {{convert|76.9|°F|°C|0}}. Dallas receives approximately {{convert|39.1|in|mm|0}} of rain per year. The record snowfall for Dallas was {{convert|11.2|in|cm|0}} on February 11, 2010.

{{Dallas weatherbox}}