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Weather & Climate in Carlton, MT
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Carlton experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 67°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 12.5 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 17.1 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. 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 3,177 feet.
Temperature
27°F Jan (-3°C)
67°F Jul (20°C)
| Annual Average | 45.6°F |
| 16% below US avg | |
| January Average | 27°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 67°F (20°C) |
| Sunny Days | 273 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,177 ft (968 m) |
| Area | 6.2 sq mi (16.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 81/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 46.6912°N, 114.0624°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Ravalli County County |
| Nearest Airport | Missoula Montana (MSO) 16 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 26.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 78.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 45.2 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 27.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| 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
315 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 | 115 km | 12 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana | M5.0 | 107 km | 15 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.4 | 117 km | 10 km |
| Jan 30, 2016 | 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M4.3 | 128 km | 2 km |
| Apr 15, 1998 | 11 km NE of Swan Lake, Montana | M4.1 | 148 km | 4 km |
| Jul 19, 2002 | 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 112 km | 25 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 113 km | 9 km |
| Jun 28, 2000 | 21 km SE of Clinton, Montana | M4.0 | 41 km | 10 km |
| Apr 1, 1992 | 10 km ESE of Swan Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 135 km | 5 km |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 118 km | 13 km |
| Oct 19, 2017 | 12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 117 km | 4 km |
| Jun 2, 1996 | 37 km N of Ovando, Montana | M3.9 | 106 km | 5 km |
| Apr 1, 1993 | 15 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 125 km | 5 km |
| Mar 13, 2017 | 4 km ESE of Avon, Montana | M3.8 | 116 km | 20 km |
| Jul 5, 2024 | 24 km ENE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 93 km | 22 km |
| Jun 1, 1996 | 23 km N of Ovando, Montana | M3.8 | 90 km | 10 km |
| Mar 21, 1992 | 20 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 90 km | 5 km |
| May 7, 1992 | 14 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 84 km | 5 km |
| Nov 8, 1997 | 39 km SE of Pierce, Idaho | M3.8 | 115 km | 5 km |
| Sep 26, 2004 | 14 km WSW of Pablo, Montana | M3.8 | 100 km | 17 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
10 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 23, 1975 | EF2 | 62 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 9, 2023 | EF0 | 75 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1995 | EF0 | 96 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1991 | EF0 | 48 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 15, 1990 | EF0 | 29 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 16, 1988 | EF0 | 50 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 11, 1988 | EF0 | 73 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 20, 1983 | EF0 | 23 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 4, 1971 | EF0 | 84 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 17, 1962 | EF0 | 92 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 | 90 km |
| 2000 | VALLEY COMPLEX (BEAR) | 118,045 | 76 km |
| 2017 | MEYERS | 68,711 | 87 km |
| 2007 | SAWMILL COMPLEX (WYMAN 2) | 68,236 | 38 km |
| 2000 | MUSSIGBROD COMPLEX (MUSSIGBROD) | 64,810 | 95 km |
| 2000 | SULA COMPLEX (MAYNARD) | 62,967 | 99 km |
| 2017 | LOLO PEAK | 62,316 | 14 km |
| 2007 | BRIDGE | 36,732 | 50 km |
| 2007 | JOCKO LAKES | 35,759 | 65 km |
| 2017 | LITTLE HOGBACK | 34,646 | 46 km |
| 2003 | FISH CREEK COMPLEX (THOMPSON CREEK) | 33,779 | 51 km |
| 2012 | FERN | 29,736 | 42 km |
| 2012 | FREEZE OUT | 28,355 | 70 km |
| 2017 | LIBERTY | 27,731 | 50 km |
| 2017 | SUNRISE | 26,896 | 73 km |
| 2003 | COONEY RIDGE | 25,741 | 18 km |
| 2000 | MONTURE-SPREAD RIDGE (MONTURE) | 22,493 | 94 km |
| 2012 | CEDAR | 21,305 | 61 km |
| 2017 | MOOSE CREEK 1 | 21,242 | 84 km |
| 2003 | MINERAL-PRIMM (MINERAL AND PRIMM) | 20,888 | 43 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.3 in | |
| February | 29°F (-2°C) | 0.8 in | Driest |
| March | 36°F (2°C) | 0.9 in | |
| April | 43°F (6°C) | 1.0 in | |
| May | 51°F (10°C) | 1.7 in | Wettest |
| June | 59°F (15°C) | 1.7 in | |
| July | 67°F (20°C) | 1.0 in | Warmest |
| August | 65°F (18°C) | 1.1 in | |
| September | 55°F (13°C) | 1.0 in | |
| October | 44°F (7°C) | 0.9 in | |
| November | 32°F (0°C) | 1.0 in | |
| December | 24°F (-4°C) | 1.2 in | Coldest |
Carlton has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 24°F in December to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 13.5 inches, with May being the wettest month (1.7") and February the driest (0.8").