--- title: "DFW Construction Heat Plan Month by Month for Crews" description: "A month-by-month heat plan for Dallas-Fort Worth crews, built on NWS normal highs, 100 degree day counts, and OSHA water, rest, and shade guidance." url: https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/dfw-construction-heat-plan-by-month publisher: JMAR Solutions phone: +1-214-632-7780 quote: https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/contact --- Texas crews: Dallas-Fort Worth # DFW Construction Heat Plan Month by Month for Crews In Dallas-Fort Worth, normal highs climb from 76.1F in April to 95.8F in August, and the average year brings 20.2 days at 100F or more. Build your heat plan around that curve: start light in spring, peak controls in July and August, and keep them through September. Published October 20, 20264 min read ## When is heat season for DFW construction crews? Heat season runs from late April through September. The National Weather Service table for the DFW station shows normal highs of 76.1F in April, 83.6F in May, 91.5F in June, 95.6F in July, 95.8F in August, and 88.6F in September. The peak is July and August. This plan uses those normals as a guide. Real days run hotter or cooler. Watch the forecast, and treat the plan as your floor. ## What does a month-by-month plan look like? The table pairs each month’s NWS normal high with a plan step. The plan steps are our advice, built on OSHA’s [water, rest, shade](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/water-rest-shade) frame. They are not a legal standard. Month Normal high (NWS, DFW) Heat plan step March 68.6F Review last year’s near misses. Update the written plan. April 76.1F Run the first heat toolbox talk. Restock cooling gear. May 83.6F Start the [acclimatization](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/acclimatization) schedule for new hires. Set up shade. June 91.5F Full plan on. Track forecast heat daily. Average 1.6 days at 100F. July 95.6F Peak controls. Earlier starts. Longer rests. Average 7.4 days at 100F. August 95.8F Hold peak controls. Average 9.7 days at 100F. Watch for fatigue. September 88.6F Keep the plan. Heat still hits, with 1.4 days at 100F on average. October 78.4F Relax gradually. Review what worked. November 66.6F Close out the plan. Start cold-season checks. The NWS table lists the average days with a high of 100F or more at 20.2 per year. July and August carry most of them. Some years run far beyond that. ## Why start the plan in spring? Early heat hurts more than late heat. NWS HeatRisk looks at the “time of year (for example, is this early season heat that you likely haven’t become used to, or late season heat that you have become more used to).” Early heat can carry more risk than the same heat in late summer, because bodies have not adapted. Workers lose heat tolerance over winter. OSHA says workers “can also lose heat acclimatization during the winter, when temperatures are cooler.” Treat the first warm weeks like a new-hire week. Our [heat acclimatization schedule](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/guides/heat-acclimatization-schedule) lays out the steps. ## How do DFW crews know when to act? Use three triggers: the forecast, the alert, and the crew. Check the forecast each morning. Add an NWS [HeatRisk](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/heatrisk) look-ahead. HeatRisk gives a daily value for up to seven days ahead. Know your alert criteria. NWS Houston/Galveston notes that “other NWS offices may have different criteria,” so check the Fort Worth office’s current page. An alert day is also an inspection day. OSHA’s revised Heat National Emphasis Program says compliance officers will run random inspections in high-risk industries on days when NWS issues a heat advisory or warning. See our [OSHA emphasis program post](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/osha-heat-emphasis-program-2026). ## What should the July and August crew rules include? Peak months need tight rules that every lead can run. 1. Start the hardest tasks at first light. 2. Break more often as heat stress rises. Do not allow skipped breaks. 3. Keep cool water at each work zone. 4. Build a cooled rest spot. Use our [cool-down area setup guide](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/jobsite-cool-down-area-setup). 5. Pair every worker with a buddy. 6. Post the 911 plan for heat stroke where every lead can see it. ## Where does hydration fit? Long shifts in 95F weather mean heavy sweat. OSHA says crews working two hours or more should have fluids with electrolytes in addition to water. JMAR Solutions, based in Little Elm, builds [hydration programs](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/hydration-programs) with onsite toolbox talks for crews like yours. Rapid Restoration Drops are a dietary supplement. They replace electrolytes lost in sweat and support hydration. They do not replace shade, rest, or emergency care. ## What should a daily DFW routine include? A daily routine turns the monthly plan into habit. Keep it short enough that leads do it every time. 1. Read the day’s forecast and any NWS alert before the first huddle. 2. Tell the crew the expected high and the break plan. 3. Check that water, cups, and shade are in place. 4. Pair new and returning workers with a buddy. 5. Check back at midday. Change the plan if the heat rises. 6. Log the day in two lines: conditions and any problems. ## What about the cooler months? Use them to prepare. Review the year, fix gaps, and refresh your written plan. Workers can lose heat tolerance during winter, so build the ramp-up into your spring hiring. For cold-season hydration, see our [winter hydration check](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/winter-hydration-check-for-crews). ## Can subcontractors share one plan? Yes, and they should. The general contractor can set the site standard for water, shade, break rules, and the 911 plan. Each sub trains its own crew on it. A shared one-page plan beats five different ones. Review the [heat stress program guide for employers](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/guides/heat-stress-program-for-employers) for a base layout. ## What do the 100 degree day counts mean for planning? They show where the risk piles up. The NWS table lists 1.6 days at 100F or more in a normal June, 7.4 in July, 9.7 in August, and 1.4 in September. Plan for peak controls from late June through early September. Remember that a normal year is only a guide. A hot spring or a hot October can break the pattern, so let the daily forecast override the calendar. ## Next step Want this plan on one page for your DFW superintendents? [Book a 15-minute demo](https://calendly.com/jen-jmarsolutions/15-min-meeting) or ask for a [free sample](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/free-sample). ## Frequently asked questions ### How many 100 degree days does DFW get in a normal year? The NWS table for the DFW station lists 20.2 days a year with a maximum of 100F or more, on average. July averages 7.4 days and August 9.7 days. June averages 1.6 and September 1.4. Some years run far above or below that average. ### When should DFW crews start the heat plan? Start in spring, not in July. NWS HeatRisk counts early season heat as higher risk because people have not become used to it. DFW normal highs pass 83F in May and 91F in June, so run your first heat talk by late April. ### Does the NWS Fort Worth office use the same alert criteria as Houston? Not necessarily. NWS Houston/Galveston states that its criteria are specific to its office and that other offices may differ. Check the Fort Worth office forecast page for its current criteria before you set triggers for your crew. ## Terms on this page - [Acclimatization](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/acclimatization) - [Toolbox talk](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/toolbox-talk) - [Heat stress](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/heat-stress) - [Heat stroke](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/heat-stroke) - [Hydration](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/hydration) - [HeatRisk](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/glossary/heatrisk) ## Sources 1. [National Weather Service Fort Worth: DFW, Normals, Means, and Extremes](https://www.weather.gov/fwd/dfw_records_normals) 2. [National Weather Service Fort Worth: DFW, Normals, Means, and Extremes](https://www.weather.gov/fwd/dfw_records_normals) 3. [National Weather Service: Heat Forecast Tools](https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-tools) 4. [National Weather Service Houston/Galveston: WWA Criteria](https://www.weather.gov/hgx/WWA_criteria) 5. [OSHA: US Department of Labor updates national emphasis program to protect workers from indoor, outdoor heat hazards](https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/osha-national-news-release/20260410) 6. [OSHA: Heat, Water. Rest. Shade.](https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/water-rest-shade) 7. [OSHA: Heat, Protecting New Workers](https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/protecting-new-workers) Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026. Rules and guidance change, so check the linked page before you act. This page is general information, not legal or medical advice. ## Keep reading - [Build a heat stress program in 8 stepsA heat stress program has eight parts: name a daily lead, measure heat on site, set advisory-day triggers, give water, rest and shade, acclimatize workers, train everyone, plan first aid and 911, then review. OSHA says employers should write the plan down. This follows OSHA and NIOSH guidance, not a final federal rule.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/guides/heat-stress-program-for-employers) - [A heat acclimatization schedule for new and returning workersNIOSH says to build heat tolerance over 7 to 14 days. New workers do no more than 20% of the usual time in the heat on day 1, then add no more than 20% each day. Experienced workers can do 50%, 60%, 80%, then 100% on days 1 through 4. Cut the time, not the work intensity.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/guides/heat-acclimatization-schedule) - [How to Set Up a Jobsite Cool-Down Area (Water, Rest, Shade)A cool-down area gives crews water, rest, and shade in one place near the work. OSHA says water should be cool and easy to reach, breaks should grow longer as heat stress rises, and shade can be a tent, a building, or an air-conditioned vehicle. Set it up before the shift starts.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/jobsite-cool-down-area-setup) - [Cold Work, Hidden Dehydration: A Winter Hydration CheckCrews can get dehydrated in the cold. A 2025 review of worker hydration lists cold-induced diuresis, lost water in breath, heavy clothing, and a weaker thirst sense as causes. NIOSH tells employers to provide warm liquids and warm break areas. Check hydration on cold days, not just hot ones.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/blog/winter-hydration-check-for-crews) - [Heat stress prevention for high-risk crewsHeat stress prevention starts with water, rest and shade, then adds acclimatization for new workers, supervisor training and a written plan. NIOSH says to give workers cool water near the work area and to build up heat exposure over 7 to 14 days. Electrolytes support hydration when a crew sweats for hours.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/heat-stress-prevention) - [A 5-minute heat toolbox talk, word for wordA heat toolbox talk is a short crew meeting before work that covers the signs of heat illness, how often to drink, who watches whom, and when to call 911. This guide gives a word-for-word script that takes about five minutes, built on NIOSH training guidance, plus a sign-off sheet.](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/guides/heat-toolbox-talk) ![Ironworkers silhouetted on a steel frame against a hot orange sunset](https://jmarsolutions.multisites.ai/_astro/sunset-steel.IhAMDca0_6wk53.webp) ## See it on your crew in 15 minutes Jennifer walks your safety team through the drops, the protocol and the numbers on a short live call. [Book a 15-minute demo](https://calendly.com/jen-jmarsolutions/15-min-meeting)