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Weather & Climate in Charlo, MT
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Charlo experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 30°F in January while summers reach 69°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 16.7 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 2,943 feet.
Temperature
30°F Jan (-1°C)
69°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 47.7°F |
| 12% below US avg | |
| January Average | 30°F (-1°C) |
| July Average | 69°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 273 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 2,943 ft (897 m) |
| Area | 2.0 sq mi (5.2 km²) |
| Population Density | 173/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 47.4428°N, 114.1722°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Lake County County |
| Nearest Airport | Missoula Montana (MSO) 37 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 26.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 67.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 58.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 51.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| 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
374 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 | 136 km | 12 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana | M5.0 | 134 km | 15 km |
| Dec 22, 1998 | Idaho-Montana border region | M4.7 | 99 km | 12 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.4 | 139 km | 10 km |
| Jan 30, 2016 | 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M4.3 | 143 km | 2 km |
| Apr 15, 1998 | 11 km NE of Swan Lake, Montana | M4.1 | 70 km | 4 km |
| May 2, 1995 | 2 km NW of Kila, Montana | M4.1 | 81 km | 9 km |
| Aug 17, 1994 | 1 km E of Mullan, Idaho | M4.1 | 121 km | 2 km |
| Jun 29, 1995 | 2 km NNW of Kila, Montana | M4.1 | 80 km | 5 km |
| Jan 20, 1998 | 15 km SSE of Happys Inn, Montana | M4.0 | 87 km | 7 km |
| Jul 19, 2002 | 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 84 km | 25 km |
| Apr 1, 1992 | 10 km ESE of Swan Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 59 km | 5 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 137 km | 9 km |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 138 km | 13 km |
| Jun 28, 2000 | 21 km SE of Clinton, Montana | M4.0 | 103 km | 10 km |
| Apr 1, 1993 | 15 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 139 km | 5 km |
| Oct 19, 2017 | 12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 137 km | 4 km |
| Jun 2, 1996 | 37 km N of Ovando, Montana | M3.9 | 85 km | 5 km |
| May 7, 1992 | 14 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 66 km | 5 km |
| Jul 5, 2024 | 24 km ENE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 75 km | 22 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: EF0.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 9, 2023 | EF0 | 13 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Nov 4, 2013 | EF0 | 59 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2011 | EF0 | 38 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Apr 9, 2008 | EF0 | 87 km | 0.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 18, 2007 | EF0 | 27 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 18, 2007 | EF0 | 58 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1995 | EF0 | 42 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1991 | EF0 | 38 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 20, 1983 | EF0 | 61 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 9, 1978 | EF0 | 95 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 | 74 km |
| 2007 | CHIPPY CREEK | 95,656 | 64 km |
| 2017 | LOLO PEAK | 62,316 | 87 km |
| 2015 | BEAR CREEK | 60,710 | 69 km |
| 2007 | AHORN | 45,633 | 92 km |
| 2021 | THORNE CREEK | 39,694 | 86 km |
| 2007 | JOCKO LAKES | 35,759 | 47 km |
| 2003 | FISH CREEK COMPLEX (THOMPSON CREEK) | 33,779 | 73 km |
| 2003 | LITTLE SALMON CREEK | 33,044 | 67 km |
| 2012 | ELBOW PASS COMPLEX | 28,989 | 97 km |
| 2016 | COPPER KING | 28,338 | 73 km |
| 2017 | LIBERTY | 27,731 | 52 km |
| 2003 | BARTLETT MOUNTAIN | 27,614 | 71 km |
| 2017 | SUNRISE | 26,896 | 65 km |
| 2003 | COONEY RIDGE | 25,741 | 90 km |
| 2017 | SHEEP GAP | 24,702 | 66 km |
| 2007 | CONGER CREEK | 22,936 | 93 km |
| 2000 | MONTURE-SPREAD RIDGE (MONTURE) | 22,493 | 75 km |
| 2015 | TRAIL CREEK | 22,338 | 83 km |
| 2022 | ELMO | 22,148 | 50 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.2 in | |
| February | 31°F (-1°C) | 0.9 in | Driest |
| March | 38°F (4°C) | 1.1 in | |
| April | 46°F (8°C) | 1.2 in | |
| May | 54°F (12°C) | 2.3 in | Wettest |
| June | 61°F (16°C) | 2.2 in | |
| July | 69°F (21°C) | 1.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 67°F (20°C) | 1.3 in | |
| September | 57°F (14°C) | 1.3 in | |
| October | 46°F (8°C) | 1.0 in | |
| November | 34°F (1°C) | 1.1 in | |
| December | 27°F (-3°C) | 1.2 in | Coldest |
Charlo has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 27°F in December to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 16.0 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.3") and February the driest (0.9").