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Weather & Climate in Clinton, MT
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Clinton has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 39°F (4°C). Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 61°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 15.1 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 51.8 inches of snow annually, making winter weather a significant factor for residents. 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 3,445 feet.
Temperature
19°F Jan (-7°C)
61°F Jul (16°C)
| Annual Average | 39.3°F |
| 27% below US avg | |
| January Average | 19°F (-7°C) |
| July Average | 61°F (16°C) |
| Sunny Days | 273 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,445 ft (1,050 m) |
| Area | 3.3 sq mi (8.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 270/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 46.7718°N, 113.7205°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Granite County County |
| Nearest Airport | Missoula Montana (MSO) 20 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 26.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 9.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 49.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 29.9 / 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 Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
342 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 | 88 km | 12 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana | M5.0 | 81 km | 15 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.4 | 90 km | 10 km |
| Jan 30, 2016 | 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M4.3 | 101 km | 2 km |
| Apr 15, 1998 | 11 km NE of Swan Lake, Montana | M4.1 | 138 km | 4 km |
| Apr 1, 1992 | 10 km ESE of Swan Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 124 km | 5 km |
| Jul 19, 2002 | 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 89 km | 25 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 86 km | 9 km |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 91 km | 13 km |
| Jun 28, 2000 | 21 km SE of Clinton, Montana | M4.0 | 22 km | 10 km |
| Jun 2, 1996 | 37 km N of Ovando, Montana | M3.9 | 82 km | 5 km |
| Oct 19, 2017 | 12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 90 km | 4 km |
| Apr 1, 1993 | 15 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 97 km | 5 km |
| Mar 13, 2017 | 4 km ESE of Avon, Montana | M3.8 | 92 km | 20 km |
| Sep 26, 2004 | 14 km WSW of Pablo, Montana | M3.8 | 99 km | 17 km |
| Jul 5, 2024 | 24 km ENE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 70 km | 22 km |
| Jun 1, 1996 | 23 km N of Ovando, Montana | M3.8 | 66 km | 10 km |
| Nov 8, 1997 | 39 km SE of Pierce, Idaho | M3.8 | 142 km | 5 km |
| Apr 17, 2018 | 13 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana | M3.8 | 92 km | 14 km |
| May 7, 1992 | 14 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 62 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
11 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 23, 1975 | EF2 | 83 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1982 | EF1 | 90 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 9, 2023 | EF0 | 70 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1995 | EF0 | 81 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1991 | EF0 | 45 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 15, 1990 | EF0 | 47 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 16, 1988 | EF0 | 67 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 11, 1988 | EF0 | 56 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 20, 1983 | EF0 | 32 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 4, 1971 | EF0 | 59 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 17, 1962 | EF0 | 73 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 | 67 km |
| 1988 | CANYON CREEK | 167,875 | 90 km |
| 2000 | VALLEY COMPLEX (BEAR) | 118,045 | 90 km |
| 2017 | MEYERS | 68,711 | 88 km |
| 2007 | SAWMILL COMPLEX (WYMAN 2) | 68,236 | 33 km |
| 2000 | MUSSIGBROD COMPLEX (MUSSIGBROD) | 64,810 | 97 km |
| 2017 | LOLO PEAK | 62,316 | 42 km |
| 2003 | LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK) | 36,987 | 91 km |
| 2007 | BRIDGE | 36,732 | 75 km |
| 2007 | JOCKO LAKES | 35,759 | 48 km |
| 2017 | LITTLE HOGBACK | 34,646 | 40 km |
| 2003 | FISH CREEK COMPLEX (THOMPSON CREEK) | 33,779 | 74 km |
| 2003 | LITTLE SALMON CREEK | 33,044 | 97 km |
| 2012 | FERN | 29,736 | 69 km |
| 2012 | ELBOW PASS COMPLEX | 28,989 | 93 km |
| 2012 | FREEZE OUT | 28,355 | 97 km |
| 2017 | LIBERTY | 27,731 | 35 km |
| 2003 | BARTLETT MOUNTAIN | 27,614 | 84 km |
| 2017 | SUNRISE | 26,896 | 91 km |
| 2003 | COONEY RIDGE | 25,741 | 14 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19°F (-7°C) | 1.5 in | Coldest |
| February | 26°F (-4°C) | 1.0 in | Driest |
| March | 32°F (0°C) | 1.1 in | |
| April | 40°F (4°C) | 1.1 in | |
| May | 48°F (9°C) | 1.9 in | Wettest |
| June | 56°F (13°C) | 1.9 in | |
| July | 61°F (16°C) | 1.1 in | |
| August | 62°F (17°C) | 1.2 in | Warmest |
| September | 53°F (12°C) | 1.1 in | |
| October | 43°F (6°C) | 1.1 in | |
| November | 30°F (-1°C) | 1.2 in | |
| December | 22°F (-6°C) | 1.4 in |
Clinton has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 19°F in January to 62°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 15.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (1.9") and February the driest (1.0").