Weather & Climate in Canyon Creek, MT

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

Canyon Creek has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (5°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. The area gets 273 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 16.5 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 4,290 feet.

Temperature

21°F Jan (-6°C) 64°F Jul (18°C)

Annual Average	40.3°F
	25% below US avg
January Average	21°F (-6°C)
July Average	64°F (18°C)
Sunny Days	273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	4,290 ft (1,308 m)
Area	0.7 sq mi (1.9 km²)
Population Density	38/sq mi
Coordinates	46.8054°N, 112.2545°W
Timezone	America/Denver
County	Powell County County
Nearest Airport	Helena Regional (HLN) 19 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 16.5"

57% below US avg

Wettest Month (May) 2.13"

Driest Month (Feb) 0.63"

Air Quality

AQI Median	26.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	10.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability	58.1 / 100
Community Resilience	19.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

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

Earthquake History

439 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	26 km	12 km
Jul 6, 2017	15 km S of Lincoln, Montana	M5.0	31 km	15 km
Jul 6, 2017	14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana	M4.4	23 km	10 km
Jan 30, 2016	19 km E of Lincoln, Montana	M4.3	20 km	2 km
Oct 28, 1998	18 km S of Whitehall, Montana	M4.3	123 km	5 km
Aug 16, 2019	4 km NW of Manhattan, Montana	M4.2	123 km	2 km
Jun 18, 2006	6 km S of Pony, Montana	M4.1	137 km	12 km
Apr 8, 2000	8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana	M4.1	83 km	5 km
Aug 6, 2019	3 km NW of Manhattan, Montana	M4.1	124 km	5 km
Sep 3, 2016	16 km S of Whitehall, Montana	M4.0	121 km	8 km
Nov 6, 1997	4 km WSW of Springhill, Montana	M4.0	142 km	5 km
Jun 28, 2000	21 km SE of Clinton, Montana	M4.0	100 km	10 km
Jul 17, 2017	12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana	M4.0	24 km	13 km
Jul 14, 2019	11 km NNE of Manhattan, Montana	M4.0	121 km	6 km
Mar 6, 2009	18 km S of Whitehall, Montana	M4.0	123 km	12 km
Nov 10, 2000	14 km NE of Townsend, Montana	M4.0	81 km	2 km
Jul 6, 2017	14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana	M4.0	26 km	9 km
Jul 19, 2002	43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana	M4.0	92 km	25 km
Oct 19, 2017	12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana	M3.9	24 km	4 km
Apr 1, 1993	15 km E of Lincoln, Montana	M3.9	24 km	5 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 30, 1975	EF2	77 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 2, 1966	EF2	77 km	0.8 mi	0
Jul 5, 1988	EF1	86 km	0.2 mi	0
Jun 28, 1982	EF1	55 km	0.5 mi	0
Jul 3, 1978	EF1	82 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 3, 1978	EF1	82 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 3, 1978	EF1	82 km	1.0 mi	0
Jun 1, 1977	EF1	84 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 2, 1964	EF1	90 km	27.0 mi	0
Jun 22, 1962	EF1	92 km	0.1 mi	0
Sep 15, 1997	EF0	90 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 27, 1997	EF0	30 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 15, 1996	EF0	97 km	2.0 mi	0
Jun 21, 1993	EF0	21 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 11, 1993	EF0	31 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 9, 1992	EF0	10 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 12, 1992	EF0	75 km	0.1 mi	0
Aug 11, 1988	EF0	84 km	2.0 mi	0
May 4, 1971	EF0	57 km	0.5 mi	0
May 17, 1962	EF0	67 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: RICE RIDGE (171,473 acres, 2017).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2017	RICE RIDGE	171,473	89 km
1988	CANYON CREEK	167,875	61 km
2021	WOODS CREEK	55,836	81 km
2007	AHORN	45,633	98 km
2003	LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK)	36,987	42 km
1988	CANYON CREEK	35,865	54 km
2021	HARRIS MTN	31,792	56 km
2017	ALICE CREEK	29,971	40 km
2012	ELBOW PASS COMPLEX	28,989	80 km
1984	NORTH HILL	27,162	27 km
2000	CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (CAVE GULCH)	26,997	50 km
2021	HAYSTACK	26,118	72 km
2007	CONGER CREEK	22,936	72 km
2000	MONTURE-SPREAD RIDGE (MONTURE)	22,493	90 km
2007	MERIWETHER	18,865	33 km
2017	PARK CREEK	17,915	45 km
2007	RAILLEY MOUNTAIN	17,528	96 km
2000	RYAN GULCH	16,440	93 km
2000	CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (BUCKSNORT)	14,843	48 km
1990	BEARTOOTH COMPLEX	13,462	39 km

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

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	21°F (-6°C)	0.9 in	Coldest
February	26°F (-3°C)	0.6 in	Driest
March	32°F (0°C)	0.8 in
April	40°F (4°C)	1.1 in
May	49°F (9°C)	2.1 in	Wettest
June	57°F (14°C)	2.1 in
July	64°F (18°C)	1.3 in	Warmest
August	63°F (17°C)	1.5 in
September	53°F (12°C)	1.3 in
October	43°F (6°C)	0.8 in
November	30°F (-1°C)	0.7 in
December	22°F (-5°C)	0.9 in

Canyon Creek has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 21°F in January to 64°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.1") and February the driest (0.6").

View full profile of Canyon Creek, MT →