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Plains, MT

Full City Profile · Montana · Lake County County

2.1 /5.0
C Fair
1,077 Population 1,737/sq mi density
$24,661 Median Income $43,265 per capita
$209,200 Home Value $395,959 Zillow
$782 Median Rent 46.0% income on rent
48°F Avg Temperature 273 sunny days/yr
469 Violent Crime/100K 1,968 property/100K
C
Overall
2.1 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.1 / 5.0
$24,661 median income, 2.0% unemployment
D
Affordability
1.9 / 5.0
$209,200 home value, $782/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
469 violent crimes/100K (23% above avg)
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.0% bachelor's degree or higher
Plains experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 29°F in January while summers reach 70°F in July. The area gets 273 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 16.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 26.

Temperature

29°F Jan (-2°C) 70°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average47.7°F
12% below US avg
January Average29°F (-2°C)
July Average70°F (21°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation2,471 ft (753 m)
Area0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²)
Population Density1,737/sq mi
Coordinates47.4602°N, 114.8842°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyLake County County
Nearest AirportMissoula Montana (MSO)
53 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 16.4"
57% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jan) 2.32"
Driest Month (Jul) 1.10"

Air Quality

AQI Median26.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score67.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability58.8 / 100
Community Resilience51.0 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

217 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.7. Most recent: M2.9 on Aug 15, 2025.

Dec 22, 1998 Idaho-Montana border region M4.7 64 km
Apr 15, 1998 11 km NE of Swan Lake, Montana M4.1 105 km
Aug 17, 1994 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho M4.1 67 km
Jun 29, 1995 2 km NNW of Kila, Montana M4.1 81 km
May 2, 1995 2 km NW of Kila, Montana M4.1 82 km
Jul 19, 2002 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M4.0 138 km
Jan 20, 1998 15 km SSE of Happys Inn, Montana M4.0 56 km
Apr 1, 1992 10 km ESE of Swan Lake, Montana M4.0 99 km
Jun 28, 2000 21 km SE of Clinton, Montana M4.0 138 km
Jun 2, 1996 37 km N of Ovando, Montana M3.9 138 km
Apr 24, 2015 8 km WSW of Hope, Idaho M3.9 142 km
Mar 21, 1992 20 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M3.8 123 km
Jun 1, 1996 23 km N of Ovando, Montana M3.8 132 km
May 2, 1995 3 km WNW of Kila, Montana M3.8 80 km
May 7, 1992 14 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M3.8 119 km
Sep 26, 2004 14 km WSW of Pablo, Montana M3.8 45 km
Jul 5, 2024 24 km ENE of Seeley Lake, Montana M3.8 128 km
Nov 8, 1997 39 km SE of Pierce, Idaho M3.8 141 km
Jan 13, 2010 36 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M3.7 129 km
Apr 24, 2015 12 km SSW of East Hope, Idaho M3.7 134 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

10 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF0.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 9, 2023 EF0 63 km 0
Nov 4, 2013 EF0 83 km 0
Sep 1, 2011 EF0 72 km 0
Apr 9, 2008 EF0 94 km 0
Jul 18, 2007 EF0 48 km 0
Jul 18, 2007 EF0 79 km 0
Aug 7, 1995 EF0 95 km 0
Mar 3, 1991 EF0 75 km 0
Jul 20, 1983 EF0 86 km 0
Jul 9, 1978 EF0 43 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: CHIPPY CREEK (95,656 ac, 2007).

Year Name Acres Distance
2007 CHIPPY CREEK 95,656 39 km
2021 THORNE CREEK 39,694 37 km
2007 JOCKO LAKES 35,759 97 km
2003 FISH CREEK COMPLEX (THOMPSON CREEK) 33,779 66 km
2016 COPPER KING 28,338 25 km
2017 LIBERTY 27,731 96 km
2017 SUNRISE 26,896 44 km
2017 SHEEP GAP 24,702 12 km
2022 ELMO 22,148 57 km
2003 MINERAL-PRIMM (MINERAL AND PRIMM) 20,888 97 km
2023 NIARADA 20,686 48 km
2000 UPPER NINEMILE COMPLEX (NINE MILE) 19,695 31 km
2023 RIVER ROAD EAST 18,068 11 km
1994 LITTLE WOLF 15,714 94 km
2017 DEEP CREEK 14,558 49 km
2015 WEST FORK FISH CREEK 14,495 62 km
2023 MIDDLE RIDGE 14,459 39 km
2017 MOOSE PEAK 14,085 58 km
2021 DECEITFUL 12,750 83 km
1984 HOUGHTON CREEK II 12,495 72 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 29°F (-2°C) 2.3 in Wettest
February 29°F (-2°C) 1.6 in
March 35°F (2°C) 1.3 in
April 42°F (6°C) 1.3 in
May 50°F (10°C) 2.0 in
June 58°F (14°C) 2.0 in
July 70°F (21°C) 1.1 in Warmest, Driest
August 64°F (18°C) 1.3 in
September 55°F (13°C) 1.3 in
October 44°F (7°C) 1.1 in
November 33°F (1°C) 1.9 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 2.2 in Coldest

Plains has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 26°F in December to 70°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 19.5 inches, with January being the wettest month (2.3") and July the driest (1.1").

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