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Rio Grande Wild & Scenic RiverTwo canoes
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Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River
Weather
 

Weather and River Level Information
Sunshine is abundant year-round on the Rio Grande. While this sounds welcoming, heat stroke and heat exhaustion are dangers to guard against during the hot months. Conversely, hypothermia is a life-threatening danger during the balance of the year. Infrequent and brief periods of cloudy weather are confined mostly to the winter months.

Appropriate clothing and other gear should be carried from November through April as cold fronts can bring freezing weather with rain or snow. The “rainy season” extends from mid-July through early October and can result in locally heavy thunderstorms and flash floods. Rapid river rises can be dangerous if unprepared. Relative humidity is normally between 25%-40% year around.

The statistics shown below are from Rio Grande Village, elevation 1,850 feet above sea level.

 
Month

Temperature Averages °F/°C

Precipitation
(inches/mm)
River depth
(feet/meters)
Maximum Minimum
January 67.7 / 19.8 31.8 / -0.1 0.39 / 9.9 2.53 / 0.77
February 74.0 / 23.3 35.4 / 1.9 0.39 / 9.9 2.58 / 0.79
March 83.2 / 28.4 44.4 / 6.9 0.16 / 4.1 2.93 / 0.89
April 91.1 / 32.8 53.4 / 11.9 0.58 / 14.7 3.06 / 0.93
May 96.8 / 36.0 62.8 / 17.1 1.43 / 36.3 3.54 / 1.08
June 103.1 / 39.5 69.7 / 20.9 1.44 / 36.6 3.39 / 1.03
July 101.6 / 38.7 70.8 / 21.6 1.47 / 37.3 3.15 / 0.96
August 99.4 / 37.4 71.0 / 21.7 1.61 / 40.1 3.87 / 1.18
September 94.9 / 34.9 65.3 / 18.5 1.30 / 33.0 4.16 / 1.27
October 87.2 / 30.7 54.0 / 12.2 1.30 / 33.0 4.31 / 1.31
November 76.8 / 24.9 40.2 / 4.6 0.41 / 10.4 3.01 / 0.92
December 69.9 / 21.1 32.9 / 0.5 0.34 / 8.6 2.65 / 0.81
 What's the weather?
Big Bend National Park Daily Report
includes current river levels from Presidio to Dryden
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NOAA logo
NOAA River Level Information
River level information and forecasts from the National Weather Service.
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Canoeing the Rio Grande
IBWC Water Level Information
Rio Grande flow and level information from the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC).
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Boquillas Canyon  

Did You Know?
Floating through Boquillas Canyon often takes a trip of at least two days with no major hazards. Since no rapids rate higher than Class II, this is an ideal trip on the Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River for those with less experience.
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Last Updated: November 22, 2008 at 17:02 EST