Weather & Climate in Butte, NE

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Butte experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 291 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 27.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 36.1 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32. The city sits at an elevation of 1,808 feet.

Temperature

21°F Jan (-6°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)

Annual Average	47.5°F
	12% below US avg
January Average	21°F (-6°C)
July Average	74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days	291 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	1,808 ft (551 m)
Area	0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Population Density	760/sq mi
Coordinates	42.9130°N, 98.8474°W
Timezone	America/Chicago
County	Boyd County County
Nearest Airport	Ainsworth Regional (ANW) 63 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 27.4"

28% below US avg

Snowfall 36.1"

Wettest Month (Jun) 3.82"

Driest Month (Jan) 0.39"

Air Quality

AQI Median	32.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	3.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability	10.6 / 100
Community Resilience	32.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Very Low
Flood	Very Low
Hail	Relatively Low
Strong Wind	Very Low
Heat Wave	Very Low
Winter Weather	Relatively Low
Lightning	Very Low
Ice Storm	Relatively Low
Drought	Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave	Relatively Low
Landslide	Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

17 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.3.

Nov 3, 2002	16 km SSW of Butte, Nebraska	M4.3	17 km	5 km
Jun 4, 2021	10 km NE of Anoka, Nebraska	M3.7	14 km	5 km
Feb 6, 1996	1 km N of Wausa, Nebraska	M3.6	116 km	5 km
Oct 25, 1990	8 km N of Plankinton, South Dakota	M3.6	103 km	5 km
Jan 25, 1994	8 km E of Wood Lake, Nebraska	M3.3	110 km	5 km
Jun 18, 2015	15 km SSE of Valentine, Nebraska	M3.3	134 km	5 km
Jun 4, 2021	9 km ENE of Anoka, Nebraska	M3.1	13 km	5 km
Jan 4, 2021	5 km N of Tyndall, South Dakota	M3.1	81 km	5 km
Feb 7, 2014	11 km NE of Bijou Hills, South Dakota	M3.0	79 km	5 km
Feb 1, 2006	6 km ENE of Bassett, Nebraska	M2.9	61 km	5 km
Jul 3, 1995	9 km SSW of Fort Thompson, South Dakota	M2.8	132 km	5 km
Jan 1, 2020	2 km E of Chambers, Nebraska	M2.8	79 km	10 km
Mar 20, 2010	9 km NNW of Springview, Nebraska	M2.7	78 km	5 km
Feb 5, 2025	8 km SSE of Tilden, Nebraska	M2.7	135 km	5 km
Apr 27, 2025	9 km NE of Burke, South Dakota	M2.5	48 km	5 km
Jan 16, 2022	9 km NE of Plankinton, South Dakota	M2.5	102 km	5 km
Mar 6, 2024	6 km SSE of Santee, Nebraska	M2.5	86 km	5 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

376 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF5. Total: 1 fatality, 151 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
May 8, 1965	EF5	72 km	30.1 mi	0
May 29, 1962	EF4	42 km	24.2 mi	0
Oct 4, 2013	EF3	95 km	6.4 mi	0
May 5, 2007	EF3	92 km	4.0 mi	0
Jun 9, 2003	EF3	43 km	23.0 mi	0
Jun 26, 1965	EF3	84 km	35.6 mi	0
Jun 21, 1965	EF3	87 km	15.4 mi	0
May 8, 1965	EF3	93 km	44.8 mi	0
May 8, 1965	EF3	49 km	1.5 mi	0
Jun 5, 1962	EF3	77 km	9.5 mi	0
May 21, 1962	EF3	11 km	11.0 mi	0
May 16, 1962	EF3	19 km	0.1 mi	0
May 15, 1962	EF3	55 km	0.1 mi	0
May 14, 1962	EF3	66 km	70.4 mi	0
May 14, 1962	EF3	88 km	53.8 mi	0
Jun 18, 1954	EF3	79 km	10.6 mi	0
May 12, 2023	EF2	93 km	7.3 mi	0
May 10, 2015	EF2	55 km	16.2 mi	0
Oct 4, 2013	EF2	97 km	6.6 mi	0
May 22, 2010	EF2	87 km	9.0 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

8 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (6,910 acres, 2012).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2012	UNNAMED	6,910	61 km
1995	UNNAMED	3,145	88 km
2012	UNNAMED	2,875	50 km
2002	UNNAMED	2,130	89 km
2000	NOVOTNY AND WAGNER	1,968	92 km
2012	KAYLKOWSKI	1,966	30 km
2012	SIX PACK	1,649	81 km
2023	SDLDR-HFR-FY23-RX-BROKEN ARROW UNITS B-C-D-E-G-H-I	1,185	64 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	21°F (-6°C)	0.4 in	Coldest, Driest
February	27°F (-3°C)	0.6 in
March	37°F (3°C)	1.7 in
April	48°F (9°C)	2.4 in
May	60°F (16°C)	3.5 in
June	70°F (21°C)	3.8 in	Wettest
July	74°F (23°C)	3.2 in	Warmest
August	74°F (23°C)	2.6 in
September	64°F (18°C)	2.5 in
October	51°F (11°C)	1.6 in
November	35°F (2°C)	0.9 in
December	24°F (-4°C)	0.6 in

Butte has a seasonal temperature swing of 53°F / from 21°F in January to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 23.6 inches, with June being the wettest month (3.8") and January the driest (0.4").

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