Del Rio is located on the Rio Grande River, on the western tip of the Balcones escarpment, in southwest Texas. The elevation is near 1,000 Feet and varies little within the city. Regional agriculture is mainly wool and mohair production to the north and west of Del Rio, with garden crops and livestock to the southeast.

The climate of Del Rio is semi-arid continental. Annual precipitation is insufficient for dry farming; however San Felipe Springs and the Rio Grande provide adequate water for irrigation farming. Over 80 percent of the average annual precipitation occurs from April through October. During this period, rainfall is chiefly in the form of showers and thunderstorms often as heavy downpours, resulting in flash flooding. The small amount of precipitation for November through March usually falls as steady light rain. During some November through March periods, heavy rains and flash flooding has occurred. Average yearly rainfall is near 19 inches. Rainfall extremes vary from 4.34 inches in 1956 to 37.75 inches in 1914. Although tornadoes are rare, they have occurred, and have been most often associated with the dissapating tropical storms that have moved inland from the Gulf of Mexico.

Hail occurs in the vicinity of Del Rio about once per year and reaches severe proportions about once every 5 years. Sleet or snow has been observed in some winters, but frequently melts as it falls. A snowfall heavy enough to blanket the ground only occurs about once every four or five years, and seldom remains more than 24 hours.

Temperature averages indicate mild winters and hot summers. Average monthly temperatues vary from the 50s in winter to the 80s in the summer. Cold periods in winter are ushered in by strong dry north and northwest winds known as Northers, and temperature drops of as much as 25 deg. in a few hours are not uncommon. Cold weather periods usually do not last more than several days. The coldest temperature of record was 10 on December 23, 1989. Temperatures as low as 32 degrees have been recorded as early as October and as late as March. The average occurrence of the earliest freeze in fall is early December, while the average date of the last freeze is mid to late February. The earliest freeze was 32 on October 27, 1913 and the latest freeze was 32 on March 31, 1987.

Hot weather is rather persistent from late May to mid-September, with most days above 90 degrees. Temperatures of 100 degrees has been observed as early as March and as late as October. During June, July and August, afternoon highs exceed 90 over 80 precent of the time, while during September they exceed 90 over 60 percent of the time. Being farther away from the Gulf of Mexico and closer to the hot deserts of the Southwest U.S., afternoon highs can get hotter than other places over South Central Texas. Highs of 100 or higher can easily occur on consecutive days. The record consecutive days of 100 or higher was 50 from June 17 to August 5, 1980. The highest temperature of record was 112 June 9, 1988.

The wind direction is mostly east and southeast from spring to early fall, then becomes mostly northerly during winter with the passage of more cold fronts. In the wake of winter cold fronts, winds can quickly turn to the east and southeast again, before switching to the north with the passage of the next cold front.