Weather & Climate in Butte-Silver Bow, MT

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

Butte-Silver Bow has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (5°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. The area gets 311 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 12.8 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 26 / among the cleanest air in the country. The city sits at an elevation of 5,797 feet.

Temperature

20°F Jan (-7°C) 64°F Jul (18°C)

Annual Average	40.1°F
	26% below US avg
January Average	20°F (-7°C)
July Average	64°F (18°C)
Sunny Days	311 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	5,797 ft (1,767 m)
Area	715.8 sq mi (1,853.8 km²)
Population Density	49/sq mi
Coordinates	45.8962°N, 112.6601°W
Timezone	America/Denver
County	Silver Bow County County
Nearest Airport	Helena Regional (HLN) 59 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 12.8"

66% below US avg

Wettest Month (Jun) 2.20"

Driest Month (Feb) 0.43"

Air Quality

AQI Median	26.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	38.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability	17.0 / 100
Community Resilience	62.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

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

Earthquake History

630 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.8.

Jul 6, 2017	11 km SE of Lincoln, Montana	M5.8	110 km	12 km
Jul 26, 2005	16 km N of Dillon, Montana	M5.6	59 km	13 km
Aug 20, 1999	22 km NW of Lima, Montana	M5.1	124 km	16 km
Jul 6, 2017	15 km S of Lincoln, Montana	M5.0	102 km	15 km
Apr 9, 2019	9 km NE of Lima, Montana	M4.6	134 km	14 km
May 8, 2007	8 km NNW of Alder, Montana	M4.4	69 km	14 km
Jul 6, 2017	14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana	M4.4	107 km	10 km
Feb 5, 2006	44 km NE of Spencer, Idaho	M4.4	148 km	14 km
Apr 5, 2011	28 km NNE of Spencer, Idaho	M4.4	150 km	12 km
Jun 13, 2016	45 km W of Hebgen Lake Estates, Montana	M4.3	147 km	10 km
Jan 30, 2016	19 km E of Lincoln, Montana	M4.3	118 km	2 km
Oct 28, 1998	18 km S of Whitehall, Montana	M4.3	46 km	5 km
Jul 14, 2023	3 km S of Lima, Montana	M4.2	143 km	12 km
Aug 16, 2019	4 km NW of Manhattan, Montana	M4.2	100 km	2 km
Apr 8, 2000	8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana	M4.1	108 km	5 km
Aug 30, 1997	25 km WNW of Hebgen Lake Estates, Montana	M4.1	148 km	4 km
Aug 6, 2019	3 km NW of Manhattan, Montana	M4.1	101 km	5 km
Oct 7, 2024	11 km E of Dillon, Montana	M4.1	76 km	17 km
Jun 18, 2006	6 km S of Pony, Montana	M4.1	67 km	12 km
Sep 3, 2016	16 km S of Whitehall, Montana	M4.0	46 km	8 km

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

Tornado History

22 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Jun 14, 1962	EF2	80 km	0.1 mi	0
May 19, 1962	EF2	66 km	2.0 mi	0
Jul 3, 1988	EF1	83 km	0.2 mi	0
Jun 28, 1982	EF1	56 km	0.5 mi	0
Jun 6, 1976	EF1	81 km	3.0 mi	0
May 29, 1965	EF1	38 km	0.1 mi	0
Aug 20, 2018	EF0	68 km	0.8 mi	0
Jul 10, 2016	EF0	75 km	0.0 mi	0
Sep 15, 1997	EF0	26 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 19, 1997	EF0	77 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 27, 1997	EF0	90 km	0.1 mi	0
May 17, 1994	EF0	88 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 11, 1993	EF0	94 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 29, 1992	EF0	83 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 12, 1992	EF0	96 km	0.1 mi	0
May 16, 1991	EF0	62 km	0.2 mi	0
Aug 11, 1988	EF0	72 km	2.0 mi	0
May 4, 1971	EF0	87 km	0.5 mi	0
Jul 14, 1962	EF0	80 km	0.1 mi	0
May 17, 1962	EF0	62 km	0.1 mi	0

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

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: MEYERS (68,711 acres, 2017).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2017	MEYERS	68,711	70 km
2000	MUSSIGBROD COMPLEX (MUSSIGBROD)	64,810	73 km
2021	TRAIL CREEK	62,432	91 km
2021	ALDER CREEK	38,189	40 km
1988	CANYON CREEK	35,865	90 km
2017	LITTLE HOGBACK	34,646	93 km
2021	HAYSTACK	26,118	44 km
2007	RAT CREEK	25,929	87 km
2000	VALLEY COMPLEX (COYOTE)	20,601	94 km
2022	TRAIL RIDGE	19,532	91 km
2012	BEAR TRAP 2	14,875	89 km
2006	CLARKS CANYON	14,848	94 km
2007	PATTENGAIL CREEK	13,471	47 km
2011	FORTY ONE COMPLEX	12,679	99 km
2005	SIGNAL ROCK	12,653	89 km
2000	MIDDLE FORK COMPLEX (COUGAR CREEK)	11,655	85 km
2000	BOULDER COMPLEX (HIGH ORE ROAD)	9,625	60 km
1988	COMBINATION	8,588	81 km
2015	EUSTIS	8,469	93 km
1988	SWEETWATER	8,405	96 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	20°F (-7°C)	0.6 in	Coldest
February	23°F (-5°C)	0.4 in	Driest
March	30°F (-1°C)	0.8 in
April	38°F (3°C)	1.0 in
May	46°F (8°C)	1.9 in
June	55°F (13°C)	2.2 in	Wettest
July	64°F (18°C)	1.3 in	Warmest
August	60°F (16°C)	1.4 in
September	51°F (11°C)	1.3 in
October	41°F (5°C)	0.8 in
November	28°F (-2°C)	0.6 in
December	20°F (-7°C)	0.6 in

Butte-Silver Bow has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 20°F in January to 64°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.8 inches, with June being the wettest month (2.2") and February the driest (0.4").

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