The State Fair of Texas delayed its Thursday opening until noon as heavy rain and thunderstorms moved across Dallas-Fort Worth, triggering flash-flood concerns and disrupting travel across the region.
In a Thursday morning post on X, the State Fair of Texas said gates would open at noon “due to current weather conditions, including a flash flood warning impacting the area.” Fair officials said the safety of fairgoers, vendors, partners, and team members remains the top priority and urged people traveling to Fair Park to use caution and continue monitoring official updates.
Weather Update: Due to current weather conditions, including a flash flood warning impacting the area, the State Fair of Texas will have a delayed opening today, October 1, and will open to fairgoers at 12:00 p.m. (Noon).
The safety of our fairgoers, vendors, partners, and team… pic.twitter.com/zcSFQdMgzI— State Fair of Texas (@StateFairOfTX) October 1, 2026
The fair’s regular Thursday hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the State Fair of Texas’ official FAQ.
Meanwhile, a Flood Watch remains in effect for much of North and Central Texas through Friday morning as additional rounds of slow-moving thunderstorms threaten to produce heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service Fort Worth office.
State Fair Opening Pushed to Noon
Fair officials said Thursday morning that the noon opening was prompted by current weather conditions, including a flash flood warning affecting the area.
The fair is generally open rain or shine, but its official weather policies allow rides, shows, attractions, and other activities to be delayed or closed when conditions become unsafe.
Fair leaders also told NBC 5 that they were monitoring conditions with the National Weather Service, AccuWeather meteorologists, public-safety partners, and operations teams and would base decisions on conditions at Fair Park.
The 2026 State Fair opened September 25 and is scheduled to continue through October 18. According to the fair’s official schedule, gates normally open at 10 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays, with parking gates and ticket booths opening at 9:30 a.m.
Flood Watch Continues Through Friday Morning
The Flood Watch covers a broad portion of North and Central Texas, including Dallas, Tarrant, Denton, and Collin counties.
The National Weather Service Flood Watch says slow-moving showers and thunderstorms could produce widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches, with localized totals of up to 6 inches possible.
Excessive runoff could flood rivers, creeks, streams, low-lying areas, and low-water crossings.
The National Weather Service Fort Worth Area Forecast Discussion said heavy rain and isolated flash flooding remain the primary concerns as the slow-moving storm system crosses North and Central Texas.
Forecasters said rain chances will persist through the weekend before drier air begins moving into the region.
Storms Disrupt DFW-Area Flights
Thunderstorms also disrupted air travel Thursday morning.
An FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center advisory imposed a ground stop at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport because of thunderstorms.
Travelers should check directly with their airline before leaving for either airport because restrictions can change quickly as storms move through the region.
Rain Chances Continue Into the Weekend
The latest National Weather Service forecast calls for unsettled weather to continue beyond Thursday.
For Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, the National Weather Service seven-day forecast calls for showers and possibly a thunderstorm Thursday, with a high near 81 degrees.
Showers remain likely Friday, when the high is expected to reach about 79 degrees. Friday night’s low is forecast around 66 degrees, with showers and possibly a thunderstorm continuing into early Saturday.
Saturday is expected to remain cloudy with showers likely, mainly before early afternoon, and a high near 77 degrees.
Rain chances fall to around 20% Saturday night and Sunday before drier conditions arrive. Monday and Tuesday are forecast to be sunny with highs near 81 degrees, followed by a high near 83 degrees Wednesday.
The NWS Fort Worth office said temperatures through the weekend and into next week should remain near to slightly below normal, with highs generally in the upper 70s to lower 80s and overnight lows in the 50s and 60s.
Texas Activated Emergency Resources Ahead of Storms
The severe-weather response began before the heaviest rain reached North Texas.
As The Dallas Express previously reported, Gov. Greg Abbott activated additional state emergency-response resources ahead of the system as forecasters warned that several days of heavy rainfall could produce flash flooding.
The state operations center moved to round-the-clock staffing, with more than 1,900 responders and approximately 1,500 pieces of equipment, including swift-water rescue teams and high-water vehicles, available for deployment.
Officials urged Texans to monitor forecasts, avoid flooded roadways, and follow instructions from emergency personnel.
Rain Ends One of DFW’s Longest Dry Streaks
The widespread rainfall marks a dramatic reversal from the weather pattern North Texas experienced only days ago.
As The Dallas Express reported September 21, DFW International Airport had reached 66 consecutive days without measurable precipitation through the previous Saturday.
That made the stretch the third-longest on record and left it one day short of a 67-day dry streak recorded in 2022.
The all-time record remains 84 consecutive days without measurable precipitation, from July 1 through September 22, 2000.
Rain earlier this week ultimately broke the prolonged dry pattern.
North Texas has also seen the opposite weather extreme this year.
On June 19, widespread flooding prompted Dallas Fire-Rescue to assign all 59 fire engines to vehicle-in-water calls, as The Dallas Express reported at the time.
‘Turn Around, Don’t Drown’
The National Weather Service continues to emphasize that motorists should never attempt to cross flooded roadways.
The NWS Fort Worth office warned Thursday that flash flooding can escalate quickly and urged residents to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings.
“Turn around, don’t drown,” the agency advised.
Visitors planning to attend the State Fair on Thursday should continue checking official State Fair and National Weather Service updates before traveling to Fair Park, particularly as weather conditions continue to change.
Provided by Dallas Express
