You’re driving down Highway 67, headed toward the Paluxy River, and the sky looks like a bruised peach. It’s beautiful, sure, but if you’re a local, you know that specific shade of orange-purple often means you should’ve checked the radar ten minutes ago. Most people think "Texas weather" is just one long, relentless heatwave, but the weather in Glen Rose TX is a whole different beast. It’s a micro-climate of limestone valleys, river currents, and sudden cedar-fuzz-filled winds that can turn a sunny picnic into a dash for the truck in under sixty seconds.
Honestly, if you’re planning to see the dinosaur tracks at Dinosaur Valley State Park, the weather isn't just a "nice to know" thing. It’s the difference between seeing 113-million-year-old footprints and looking at a muddy riverbed that’s risen three feet since breakfast.
The Great May Deluge: Why Spring is Tricky
Most travel blogs will tell you to visit in the spring. They aren't wrong, exactly, but they rarely mention that May is the wettest month in Somervell County. We’re talking an average of nearly 7 inches of rain just in that one month. Compare that to January, which barely scrapes by with about 2 inches, and you see the problem.
Spring in Glen Rose is lush. The bluebonnets are out, and the air smells like wet cedar and grass. But May is also the prime time for those classic North Texas "supercells." Because Glen Rose sits right where the Hill Country starts to ripple out of the prairie, the geography can sometimes funnel storms right down the Brazos and Paluxy river basins.
If the gauge at the Brazos River near Glen Rose hits 22 feet, we're in "Action" stage. If it hits 34 feet? That’s major flooding. I’ve seen the Paluxy go from a gentle trickle you can skip stones across to a roaring brown torrent that swallows the low-water crossings.
What to Pack for Spring
- A real raincoat: Not one of those flimsy plastic ponchos.
- Waterproof boots: The limestone around here gets slicker than grease when it’s damp.
- The RadarScope app: Seriously, don't rely on the default weather app on your phone; it’s too slow for Somervell storms.
The "False Spring" and the Bluebonnet Freeze
February and March are a wild ride. You’ll have a Tuesday where it’s 75 degrees and you’re thinking about shorts, and by Thursday morning, there’s a thin glaze of ice on your windshield. It’s what we call "False Spring."
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The average high in March is a comfortable 71°F, but the lows still hover around 46°F. It’s that gap—that 25-degree swing—that catches tourists off guard. You head out in a t-shirt at noon and by the time you're leaving Fossil Rim Wildlife Center at 5:00 PM, you’re shivering.
Surviving the August "Blast Furnace"
July and August are... well, they’re intense. The average high is 96°F, but that doesn't account for the humidity that rolls off the rivers. When the dew point climbs into the 60s or 70s, it feels like you're breathing through a warm, damp sock.
Actually, August is often the hottest, with temperatures frequently pushing past 100°F. If you’re visiting during this time, your schedule needs to be flipped. You do your outdoor stuff between 7:00 AM and 10:30 AM. From 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, you better be in the AC or neck-deep in the "Big Rocks" area of the river.
The limestone stores heat. Even after the sun goes down, those big white rocks stay warm to the touch. It’s a cool sensation if you’re a lizard, but for a human trying to hike, it’s basically an outdoor oven.
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The "Secret" Best Time to Visit
If you want the absolute best weather in Glen Rose TX, ignore the spring hype and come in October.
October is the "goldilocks" month. The sky is clear about 72% of the time—the clearest of the whole year. The average high drops to 79°F, and the humidity finally gives up and goes home. It’s crisp. It’s dry. You can actually hike the Joe Johnston Trail without sweating through your clothes.
November is great too, with highs around 68°F, though the nights start getting "Texas cold," meaning you’ll want a decent jacket for the evening campfire.
Why the Wind Matters More Than You Think
In April, the wind averages around 16 mph. That might not sound like much, but in the open spaces of Somervell County, it’s a constant, buffeting force. It’s usually a South wind, bringing up moisture from the Gulf. When that wind shifts and starts coming from the North? That’s your sign that a cold front (a "Blue Norther") is about to slam into the county.
Practical Steps for Your Trip
Before you head out, do these three things:
- Check the USGS Water Dashboard: Specifically, look for the Paluxy River at Glen Rose. If the discharge is over 500 cfs (cubic feet per second), the dinosaur tracks are likely underwater. If it’s under 50 cfs, the river is barely moving.
- Monitor the Fire Risk: In January and February, like today, the dry brush and low humidity can lead to high fire threats. Don't be the person who starts a brush fire because you didn't check the "Red Flag" warnings.
- Layer Like an Onion: Even in the summer, the AC in local restaurants is set to "Arctic." You will want a light hoodie even if it's 100 degrees outside.
Instead of just looking at the "7-day forecast," pay attention to the humidity and wind direction. Those two factors tell the real story of what your day in Glen Rose will actually feel like. Whether you're hunting for fossils or just hunting for a good steak, the weather is the one thing in Glen Rose you can't ignore, but you can definitely outsmart it.