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Shelby, MT

Full City Profile · Montana · Toole County County

3.0 /5.0
B Good
3,129 Population 541/sq mi density
$53,357 Median Income $31,495 per capita
$206,000 Home Value $176,469 Zillow
$769 Median Rent 24.4% income on rent
42°F Avg Temperature 274 sunny days/yr
192 Violent Crime/100K 2,340 property/100K
B
Overall
3.0 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A
Economy
4.1 / 5.0
$53,357 median income, 1.1% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.5 / 5.0
$206,000 home value, $769/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
192 violent crimes/100K
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
19.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Shelby has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 42°F (6°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 67°F in July. The area gets 274 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 12.1 inches. The area receives 38.9 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 26.

Temperature

19°F Jan (-7°C) 67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average42.2°F
22% below US avg
January Average19°F (-7°C)
July Average67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days274 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,419 ft (1,042 m)
Area6.0 sq mi (15.4 km²)
Population Density541/sq mi
Coordinates48.5021°N, 111.8620°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyToole County County
Nearest AirportCut Bank International (CTB)
25 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 12.1"
68% below US avg
Snowfall 38.9"
Wettest Month (Jun) 2.40"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.28"

Air Quality

AQI Median26.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score13.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability64.7 / 100
Community Resilience19.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

45 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.0. Most recent: M3.0 on Jan 20, 2025.

Apr 15, 1998 11 km NE of Swan Lake, Montana M4.1 150 km
Jul 19, 2002 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M4.0 148 km
Aug 16, 1994 27 km W of Chester, Montana M3.9 39 km
Jul 2, 1992 4 km SSE of South Browning, Montana M3.8 84 km
May 1, 1997 35 km SSE of Magrath, Canada M3.8 91 km
Jun 5, 1991 18 km SW of Shelby, Montana M3.6 18 km
Sep 29, 2009 42 km NW of Santa Rita, Montana M3.6 81 km
May 10, 1990 47 km SSW of Heart Butte, Montana M3.6 111 km
Jan 20, 2003 10 km S of Little Browning, Montana M3.5 35 km
Jan 3, 2008 13 km SSE of Magrath, Canada M3.5 112 km
Aug 15, 1996 33 km WNW of Sweet Grass, Montana M3.4 75 km
Aug 11, 1992 27 km W of Augusta, Montana M3.4 132 km
Nov 17, 1992 39 km NNW of Santa Rita, Montana M3.4 78 km
Jan 1, 1993 20 km WSW of Sweet Grass, Montana M3.4 50 km
Jan 22, 1993 33 km SSE of Raymond, Canada M3.4 88 km
Sep 7, 2014 36 km SSE of Magrath, Canada M3.4 90 km
Nov 21, 1992 Western Montana M3.4 140 km
Nov 6, 2002 3 km SSE of Little Browning, Montana M3.4 36 km
Mar 5, 1995 2 km NW of Cut Bank, Montana M3.3 40 km
Jul 31, 2009 41 km E of Swan Lake, Montana M3.2 124 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

20 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF2.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
May 7, 1982 EF2 44 km 0
Jun 13, 2006 EF1 60 km 0
Jun 6, 1994 EF1 27 km 0
May 25, 1980 EF1 64 km 0
Jun 1, 1977 EF1 29 km 0
May 24, 1977 EF1 81 km 0
Jun 2, 1999 EF0 61 km 0
Jun 27, 1996 EF0 67 km 0
Jun 6, 1994 EF0 9 km 0
Jun 21, 1993 EF0 1 km 0
Jun 26, 1992 EF0 92 km 0
Jun 29, 1991 EF0 57 km 0
Jul 5, 1990 EF0 98 km 0
Jul 5, 1988 EF0 98 km 0
Jun 29, 1986 EF0 63 km 0
May 7, 1982 EF0 44 km 0
Aug 2, 1981 EF0 3 km 0
Aug 2, 1981 EF0 3 km 0
Jul 3, 1963 EF0 93 km 0
Jun 5, 1963 EF0 79 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: FOOL CREEK (53,912 ac, 2007).

Year Name Acres Distance
2007 FOOL CREEK 53,912 99 km
2015 FAMILY PEAK COMPLEX 49,769 87 km
2017 STRAWBERRY 17,781 91 km
2021 GREENHOUSE 14,501 74 km
2017 CRUCIFIXION CREEK 9,971 98 km
1993 FREEZEOUT LAKE 9,793 95 km
2012 WYE FIRE 6,141 72 km
2012 BOY 5,706 82 km
1996 SHARPSFIRE 4,461 78 km
2003 PARDUE 4,269 56 km
1991 POWER 3,822 86 km
1998 BOWL MTN. 3,251 98 km
1992 RDOORECMPX 3,088 73 km
2022 BENTON LAKE UNIT 3 AND 4B 2,996 99 km
2000 BUNYAN POINT-EAR MTN. COMPLEX (EAR MOUNTAIN) 2,660 92 km
2006 NANNY CREEK 2,343 88 km
2005 H RX F COMPLEX BROADCAST BURNS 1,747 98 km
1994 WALBERGERS 1,732 93 km
1992 POWER 1,290 85 km
2006 MISSION LAKE FIRE 1,100 61 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 19°F (-7°C) 0.4 in Coldest
February 26°F (-3°C) 0.3 in Driest
March 34°F (1°C) 0.6 in
April 44°F (7°C) 0.9 in
May 54°F (12°C) 2.2 in
June 62°F (17°C) 2.4 in Wettest
July 67°F (19°C) 1.4 in
August 67°F (20°C) 1.5 in Warmest
September 56°F (13°C) 1.1 in
October 46°F (8°C) 0.5 in
November 32°F (-0°C) 0.4 in
December 23°F (-5°C) 0.4 in

Shelby has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 19°F in January to 67°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 12.0 inches, with June being the wettest month (2.4") and February the driest (0.3").

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