North Texas gets to enjoy one last stretch of spring-like warmth this weekend as the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington kicks off Friday, but forecasters warn a powerful cold front will slam the region late Sunday, sending temperatures plunging from the low 80s into the 30s by early Monday morning.
The timing makes for a dramatic finish to what is otherwise shaping up to be a marquee weekend in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The NTT INDYCAR Series makes its long-awaited return to the Metroplex with race weekend running March 13–15 on a brand-new 2.73-mile street circuit winding through Arlington's entertainment district - past AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, and Choctaw Stadium. The main event is scheduled for Sunday at 12:17 p.m. on FOX, which is also when race-goers will want to keep an eye on the sky.
The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth is forecasting north winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts reaching 40 to 50 mph as the front pushes through Sunday afternoon and evening. Temperatures that hit the mid-80s during the day will tumble through the 60s and into the 30s overnight, with wind chills dropping into the 20s by Monday morning. The NWS has indicated a wind advisory is likely to be issued for the region on Sunday.
The cold front arrives after a near-perfect stretch of weather. Friday will bring highs in the upper 70s, and Saturday should reach into the low 80s with plenty of sunshine - ideal conditions for St. Patrick's Day festivities that are expected to draw large crowds across DFW. The Arlington race weekend itself features a St. Patrick's Day-themed evening event at Texas Live! on Saturday night.
Sunday's race also brings a notable milestone for IndyCar: it's the first open-wheel event in the DFW area since 2023, when Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth hosted its final IndyCar race. The new street course, designed by Tony Cottman, is the longest IndyCar street or road circuit outside of Road America.
Points leader Josef Newgarden, fresh off a win at Phoenix Raceway last weekend, arrives in Arlington as the driver to beat.
Anyone attending Sunday's race or outdoor St. Patrick's Day events should plan for a sharp weather shift late in the day. The NWS Fort Worth office advises residents to expect the cold to arrive quickly once the front passes.
Highs return to the upper 50s on Monday before a gradual warm-up brings temperatures back to normal by midweek.
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