Weather in Big Bend National Park

 

Current Conditions:

Regional Weather Forecasts

• NOAA Recreational Report - Locate the listing for "Big Bend National Park" near the top of the report. Always current.

• NOAA Big Bend Area Zone Forecast - Brewster County, TX.

• National Weather Service Forecast - West Texas

 

Park Alerts

• Are any park facilities or areas closed today?

 

Get the Big Bend National Park Daily Report

Park Weather Station Data

• Big Bend National Park Daily Report
  Weather readings, river levels, park conditions/closures

• Chisos Basin

• Panther Junction

• Persimmon Gap

• Rio Grande Village

• Castolon

 

River Level Observations

• West Texas River Gauging Stations overview gauge heights and NWS predictions for individual stations
• Presidio for Colorado Canyon & BBRSP flows
• Castolon for Santa Elena Canyon flows
• Johnsons Ranch for the "great unknown" & Mariscal Cyn. flows
• Rio Grande Village for Hot Springs Cyn. & Boquillas Cyn. flows
• Dryden for Lower Canyons flows
• Langtry

 

Live Weather and Air Quality Data

• Ozone, Solar Radiation, Visibility, Temperature, and more

Recorded at the K-Bar monitoring site (near Panther Junction)

 

Live View From Panther Junction

Big Bend is famous for wide expansive panoramas. The view from Park Headquarters is always changing, and always spectacular. The view is to the Northwest, and updated every 15 minutes. On a clear day, distant peaks over 80 miles away are clearly visible.

Additional Information: NPS Air Quality Camera Webcam for Big Bend

View Webcam

Status: AQ Lookup Error: Please confirm Webcam URL.

 

Additional Information:

Average Temperatures and Precipitation

The table below is based on average temperatures and precipitation at Park Headquarters in Panther Junction. At the higher mountain elevations temperatures average 5–10 degrees cooler during the day and 0-5 degrees cooler at night. The mountains also receive more precipitation. The lower desert and river corridor average 5–10 degrees warmer during the day and is 0-5 degrees warmer at night (except winter when its 0-7 degrees cooler) and receives less precipitation.

Month	Max Temp Average (°F)	Min Temp Average (°F)	Monthly Precip. Average (inches)	Cumulative Precip. Average (inches)
January	61.5	37.5	.69	.69
February	67.7	41.7	.38	1.06
March	75.2	47.9	.31	1.37
April	83.7	55.8	.36	1.73
May	89.0	63.2	1.51	3.25
June	95.2	70.3	1.55	4.80
July	92.5	71.0	1.93	6.73
August	92.2	70.7	2.01	8.73
September	85.7	64.8	1.75	10.49
October	81.3	57.0	.66	11.15
November	70.6	46.6	.82	11.97
December	63.1	39.1	.51	12.47

 

Conditions Through the Year

Sunshine is abundant most of the year. Spring is typically warm and pleasant and is the parks busiest season. Try to avoid mid-March (Spring Break) unless you have reservations for accommodations.

Summers are hot; temperatures vary greatly between the desert floor, which is often above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Chisos Mountains, which are ten to twenty degrees cooler. June-August are the hottest months. Visitors should be familiar with heat safety. The rainy season runs from May through September, with locally heavy thunderstorms and some flash flooding. The rainy season can be a delightful time to visit since afternoon and evening rains often cool the desert.

Fall quickly melds into winter which is pleasantly mild and usually sunny, although periods of cloudy weather and freezing cold do occur. Snow is rare and generally light. Winter visitors must prepare for a variety of conditions. The holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks) are typically busy, so reservations for accommodations are highly recommended.

Elevation is Everything

Most weather forecasts highlight the temperature at Park Headquarters which lies at 3750 feet. Temperatures along the Rio Grande and low desert areas will be approximately 10 degrees hotter. Temps in the higher elevation Chisos Mountains average approximately 10 degrees cooler. Be prepared for this kind of variation during your trip.

Dress for the Weather

No matter the time of year, a wide-brimmed hat, comfortable clothing and sturdy walking shoes or boots are necessary for anyone planning to explore outdoors. Sunscreen is a must and hikers should always carry plenty of water; one gallon per person per day is recommended. Summer visitors should be aware of heat safety, such as wearing clothing that protects from the sun and avoiding activity during midday. Winter visitors should be prepared for any weather; temperatures vary from below freezing to above 80 degrees Fahrenheit .