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Weather & Climate in Fort Shaw, MT

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

Fort Shaw has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (6°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 66°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 13.3 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 3,528 feet.

Temperature

25°F Jan (-4°C) 66°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average43.6°F
19% below US avg
January Average25°F (-4°C)
July Average66°F (19°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,528 ft (1,075 m)
Area5.7 sq mi (14.7 km²)
Population Density33/sq mi
Coordinates47.4969°N, 111.8193°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyCascade County County
Nearest AirportGreat Falls International (GTF)
21 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 13.3"
65% below US avg
Wettest Month (May) 2.40"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.35"

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

332 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 89 km 12 km
Jul 6, 2017 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana M5.0 99 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 76 km 2 km
Apr 8, 2000 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M4.1 132 km 5 km
Jul 17, 2017 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana M4.0 87 km 13 km
Nov 10, 2000 14 km NE of Townsend, Montana M4.0 127 km 2 km
Apr 1, 1992 10 km ESE of Swan Lake, Montana M4.0 149 km 5 km
Jul 6, 2017 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana M4.0 94 km 9 km
Jul 19, 2002 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M4.0 93 km 25 km
Apr 1, 1993 15 km E of Lincoln, Montana M3.9 78 km 5 km
Feb 6, 1999 24 km E of Townsend, Montana M3.9 135 km 1 km
Aug 16, 1994 27 km W of Chester, Montana M3.9 116 km 5 km
Oct 19, 2017 12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana M3.9 88 km 4 km
Jun 2, 1996 37 km N of Ovando, Montana M3.9 94 km 5 km
Mar 13, 2017 4 km ESE of Avon, Montana M3.8 117 km 20 km
Mar 21, 1992 20 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M3.8 112 km 5 km
Apr 17, 2018 13 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana M3.8 86 km 14 km
Jul 2, 1992 4 km SSE of South Browning, Montana M3.8 143 km 10 km
Jun 1, 1996 23 km N of Ovando, Montana M3.8 106 km 10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jun 30, 1975 EF2 63 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 2, 1966 EF2 36 km 0.8 mi 0
Jul 3, 1998 EF1 22 km 0.5 mi 0
Jun 19, 1998 EF1 93 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 5, 1988 EF1 25 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 1, 1980 EF1 72 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 30 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 30 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 30 km 1.0 mi 0
Jun 1, 1977 EF1 0 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 10, 1965 EF1 84 km 0.2 mi 0
Jul 2, 1964 EF1 18 km 27.0 mi 0
Jun 22, 1962 EF1 13 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 29, 1961 EF1 55 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 29, 1960 EF1 77 km 0.3 mi 0
Jun 23, 2018 EF0 78 km 1.4 mi 0
Jul 5, 2000 EF0 73 km 1.0 mi 0
Jun 21, 1993 EF0 39 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 21, 1993 EF0 66 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 9, 1992 EF0 86 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 76 km
2007 FOOL CREEK 53,912 99 km
2007 AHORN 45,633 86 km
1988 GATES PARK 42,493 91 km
2003 LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK) 36,987 75 km
2021 HARRIS MTN 31,792 44 km
2017 ALICE CREEK 29,971 61 km
2012 ELBOW PASS COMPLEX 28,989 81 km
1984 NORTH HILL 27,162 77 km
2000 CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (CAVE GULCH) 26,997 90 km
2007 CONGER CREEK 22,936 94 km
2007 MERIWETHER 18,865 69 km
2017 PARK CREEK 17,915 86 km
2013 RED SHALE 13,712 93 km
1990 BEARTOOTH COMPLEX 13,462 59 km
2015 MOOSE RIDGE 11,395 85 km
1993 FREEZEOUT LAKE 9,793 32 km
2021 BALSINGER 8,317 90 km
2001 BIGGS FLAT 7,303 86 km
2005 HAZARD LAKE WFU 4,894 83 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 25°F (-4°C) 0.5 in Coldest
February 29°F (-2°C) 0.4 in Driest
March 36°F (2°C) 0.8 in
April 45°F (7°C) 1.2 in
May 54°F (12°C) 2.4 in Wettest
June 62°F (17°C) 2.2 in
July 66°F (19°C) 1.4 in
August 68°F (20°C) 1.5 in Warmest
September 57°F (14°C) 1.2 in
October 48°F (9°C) 0.8 in
November 35°F (1°C) 0.5 in
December 26°F (-3°C) 0.5 in

Fort Shaw has a seasonal temperature swing of 43°F / from 25°F in January to 68°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 13.4 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.4") and February the driest (0.4").

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