We recommend that you carry a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day in the summer, slightly less in the winter. For half-day hikes, carry at least 2 quarts per person. Springs are rare in the desert and wildlife depend on them. Please carry enough water to supply your own needs. Weather Annual precipitation is just under 10 inches in most of the park, but in wet years may exceed 30 inches in the mountains.
Summer brings hot days and warm nights.
Dramatic afternoon lightning storms with high winds are common and come on quickly. Heavy downpours may result in flash floods. Winter days may be sunny and warm, but the nights tend to be cold. Winter storms can blow in suddenly with plummeting temperatures and rain or snow. The weather in Big Bend, hot or cold, injures and kills more hikers than any other factor.