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Weather & Climate in Harlowton, MT
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Harlowton has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 25°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 13.2 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 19.6 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 4,217 feet.
Temperature
25°F Jan (-4°C)
67°F Jul (19°C)
| Annual Average | 43.8°F |
| 19% below US avg | |
| January Average | 25°F (-4°C) |
| July Average | 67°F (19°C) |
| Sunny Days | 273 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 4,217 ft (1,285 m) |
| Area | 0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,673/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 46.4368°N, 109.8351°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Wheatland County County |
| Nearest Airport | Billings Logan International (BIL) 76 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 26.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 3.5 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 62.2 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 10.2 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
95 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.2.
| Aug 16, 2019 | 4 km NW of Manhattan, Montana | M4.2 | 133 km | 2 km |
| Aug 6, 2019 | 3 km NW of Manhattan, Montana | M4.1 | 133 km | 5 km |
| Apr 8, 2000 | 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana | M4.1 | 121 km | 5 km |
| Nov 6, 1997 | 4 km WSW of Springhill, Montana | M4.0 | 118 km | 5 km |
| Jul 14, 2019 | 11 km NNE of Manhattan, Montana | M4.0 | 123 km | 6 km |
| Nov 10, 2000 | 14 km NE of Townsend, Montana | M4.0 | 118 km | 2 km |
| Feb 6, 1999 | 24 km E of Townsend, Montana | M3.9 | 105 km | 1 km |
| Jan 30, 2023 | 9 km NNW of Livingston, Montana | M3.8 | 97 km | 20 km |
| Feb 22, 2019 | 4 km N of Manhattan, Montana | M3.7 | 130 km | 6 km |
| May 24, 2000 | 9 km ENE of Townsend, Montana | M3.7 | 121 km | 3 km |
| Jan 9, 2003 | 23 km E of Wilsall, Montana | M3.7 | 62 km | 11 km |
| Jan 2, 1990 | 6 km NNE of Toston, Montana | M3.7 | 122 km | 1 km |
| Aug 4, 2019 | 4 km WSW of Manhattan, Montana | M3.6 | 137 km | 5 km |
| Jul 23, 2014 | 11 km NNE of Toston, Montana | M3.6 | 120 km | 10 km |
| Jul 2, 1993 | 8 km N of Manhattan, Montana | M3.5 | 128 km | 5 km |
| Jan 17, 2004 | 4 km W of Radersburg, Montana | M3.5 | 145 km | 11 km |
| Aug 3, 2019 | 3 km NNW of Manhattan, Montana | M3.4 | 132 km | 3 km |
| Aug 23, 2019 | 3 km WNW of Manhattan, Montana | M3.4 | 134 km | 6 km |
| Nov 13, 1997 | 4 km WSW of Springhill, Montana | M3.4 | 119 km | 6 km |
| Apr 16, 2004 | 10 km SSW of Radersburg, Montana | M3.4 | 145 km | 15 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
50 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 4 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jul 2, 2010 | EF2 | 55 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2002 | EF2 | 98 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 14, 1999 | EF2 | 77 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1994 | EF2 | 84 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1994 | EF2 | 84 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1965 | EF2 | 59 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 20, 1964 | EF2 | 5 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2012 | EF1 | 79 km | 2.8 mi | 0 |
| Jun 16, 2007 | EF1 | 81 km | 5.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 22, 2003 | EF1 | 85 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 23, 1998 | EF1 | 67 km | 3.5 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1977 | EF1 | 62 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 1977 | EF1 | 73 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 3, 1971 | EF1 | 24 km | 2.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 22, 1965 | EF1 | 72 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 7, 1957 | EF1 | 64 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 6, 2022 | EF0 | 81 km | 1.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2019 | EF0 | 30 km | 0.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2019 | EF0 | 75 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 9, 2018 | EF0 | 53 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: DERBY (200,993 acres, 2006).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2006 | DERBY | 200,993 | 94 km |
| 2003 | HOBBLE | 38,365 | 69 km |
| 1990 | TURKEY | 25,658 | 68 km |
| 2012 | DAHL | 21,448 | 99 km |
| 2021 | AMERICAN FORK | 20,726 | 48 km |
| 2021 | SOUTH MOCCASIN | 12,727 | 86 km |
| 1985 | SANDPOINT | 10,439 | 64 km |
| 1994 | BLACK BUTTE | 10,231 | 82 km |
| 2010 | STUMP GULCH | 8,873 | 90 km |
| 2017 | CHINN MA | 7,029 | 80 km |
| 2020 | LOUSE CREEK | 5,237 | 77 km |
| 1988 | TWO DOT | 5,097 | 35 km |
| 1999 | HORSE THIE | 4,767 | 79 km |
| 1991 | BURNETTEPK | 4,644 | 89 km |
| 2020 | YOGO | 4,429 | 74 km |
| 2017 | BLACKTAIL | 4,029 | 41 km |
| 1999 | CHRISTMAS | 3,550 | 86 km |
| 1996 | COYOTE | 3,320 | 87 km |
| 2006 | SAUNDERS | 3,038 | 93 km |
| 2012 | ANDERSON | 2,917 | 53 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25°F (-4°C) | 0.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 28°F (-2°C) | 0.4 in | Driest |
| March | 34°F (1°C) | 0.8 in | |
| April | 42°F (6°C) | 1.1 in | |
| May | 51°F (10°C) | 2.6 in | Wettest |
| June | 59°F (15°C) | 2.6 in | |
| July | 67°F (19°C) | 1.7 in | Warmest |
| August | 65°F (19°C) | 1.5 in | |
| September | 56°F (13°C) | 1.2 in | |
| October | 46°F (8°C) | 0.8 in | |
| November | 33°F (0°C) | 0.6 in | |
| December | 26°F (-4°C) | 0.5 in |
Harlowton has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 25°F in January to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.4 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.6") and February the driest (0.4").