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Weather & Climate in Fairfield, MT

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

Fairfield has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 26°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 12.4 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 3,984 feet.

Temperature

26°F Jan (-3°C) 67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average44.4°F
18% below US avg
January Average26°F (-3°C)
July Average67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,984 ft (1,214 m)
Area0.3 sq mi (0.8 km²)
Population Density2,331/sq mi
Coordinates47.6154°N, 111.9814°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyCascade County County
Nearest AirportGreat Falls International (GTF)
30 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 12.4"
67% below US avg
Wettest Month (May) 2.32"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.31"

Air Quality

AQI Median26.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score83.1 / 100
Social Vulnerability27.1 / 100
Community Resilience76.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Low
Avalanche Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

323 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 93 km 12 km
Jul 6, 2017 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana M5.0 103 km 15 km
Jul 6, 2017 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana M4.4 95 km 10 km
Jan 30, 2016 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana M4.3 82 km 2 km
Apr 8, 2000 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M4.1 148 km 5 km
Apr 15, 1998 11 km NE of Swan Lake, Montana M4.1 139 km 4 km
Jul 19, 2002 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M4.0 83 km 25 km
Apr 1, 1992 10 km ESE of Swan Lake, Montana M4.0 134 km 5 km
Nov 10, 2000 14 km NE of Townsend, Montana M4.0 143 km 2 km
Jul 17, 2017 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana M4.0 91 km 13 km
Jul 6, 2017 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana M4.0 98 km 9 km
Jun 2, 1996 37 km N of Ovando, Montana M3.9 86 km 5 km
Apr 1, 1993 15 km E of Lincoln, Montana M3.9 82 km 5 km
Oct 19, 2017 12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana M3.9 92 km 4 km
Aug 16, 1994 27 km W of Chester, Montana M3.9 108 km 5 km
Mar 13, 2017 4 km ESE of Avon, Montana M3.8 124 km 20 km
Jul 5, 2024 24 km ENE of Seeley Lake, Montana M3.8 99 km 22 km
Jul 2, 1992 4 km SSE of South Browning, Montana M3.8 125 km 10 km
May 7, 1992 14 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M3.8 109 km 5 km
Jun 1, 1996 23 km N of Ovando, Montana M3.8 99 km 10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

32 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 5 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jun 30, 1975 EF2 81 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 2, 1966 EF2 27 km 0.8 mi 0
Jul 3, 1998 EF1 33 km 0.5 mi 0
Jul 5, 1988 EF1 42 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 1, 1980 EF1 79 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 48 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 48 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 48 km 1.0 mi 0
Jun 1, 1977 EF1 18 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 10, 1965 EF1 91 km 0.2 mi 0
Jul 2, 1964 EF1 2 km 27.0 mi 0
Jun 22, 1962 EF1 6 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 29, 1961 EF1 70 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 29, 1960 EF1 90 km 0.3 mi 0
Jun 23, 2018 EF0 88 km 1.4 mi 0
Jul 5, 2000 EF0 90 km 1.0 mi 0
Jun 2, 1999 EF0 99 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 21, 1993 EF0 99 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 21, 1993 EF0 52 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 21, 1993 EF0 77 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: CANYON CREEK (167,875 acres, 1988).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
1988 CANYON CREEK 167,875 71 km
2007 FOOL CREEK 53,912 81 km
2007 AHORN 45,633 74 km
1988 GATES PARK 42,493 75 km
2003 LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK) 36,987 76 km
2021 HARRIS MTN 31,792 60 km
2017 ALICE CREEK 29,971 63 km
2012 ELBOW PASS COMPLEX 28,989 73 km
2003 BARTLETT MOUNTAIN 27,614 96 km
1984 NORTH HILL 27,162 90 km
2007 CONGER CREEK 22,936 88 km
2000 MONTURE-SPREAD RIDGE (MONTURE) 22,493 98 km
2017 SCALP 20,309 88 km
2007 MERIWETHER 18,865 83 km
2017 PARK CREEK 17,915 85 km
2017 STRAWBERRY 17,781 91 km
2013 RED SHALE 13,712 77 km
1990 BEARTOOTH COMPLEX 13,462 74 km
2015 MOOSE RIDGE 11,395 70 km
1993 FREEZEOUT LAKE 9,793 15 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 26°F (-3°C) 0.4 in Coldest
February 29°F (-2°C) 0.3 in Driest
March 35°F (2°C) 0.7 in
April 45°F (7°C) 1.1 in
May 54°F (12°C) 2.3 in Wettest
June 61°F (16°C) 2.2 in
July 67°F (19°C) 1.4 in Warmest
August 66°F (19°C) 1.5 in
September 56°F (13°C) 1.2 in
October 47°F (8°C) 0.6 in
November 34°F (1°C) 0.4 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 0.4 in

Fairfield has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 26°F in January to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.4 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.3") and February the driest (0.3").

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