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Weather & Climate in Hays, MT
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Hays has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 20°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. The area gets 274 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 14.3 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 3,935 feet.
Temperature
20°F Jan (-7°C)
69°F Jul (21°C)
| Annual Average | 43.9°F |
| 19% below US avg | |
| January Average | 20°F (-7°C) |
| July Average | 69°F (21°C) |
| Sunny Days | 274 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,935 ft (1,199 m) |
| Area | 27.1 sq mi (70.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 36/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 48.0104°N, 108.6606°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Blaine County County |
| Nearest Airport | Great Falls International (GTF) 131 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 26.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 45.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 95.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 13.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Very Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Very Low |
| Strong Wind | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
4 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.0.
| Dec 5, 1991 | 15 km WSW of Hays, Montana | M3.0 | 19 km | 10 km |
| Oct 16, 2011 | Eastern Montana | M2.7 | 70 km | 21 km |
| Jul 10, 2021 | 24 km SSE of Malta, Montana | M2.7 | 67 km | 10 km |
| Jul 15, 2015 | 48 km E of Zortman, Montana | M2.5 | 60 km | 23 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
29 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 2 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jul 5, 1988 | EF3 | 95 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1988 | EF3 | 93 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1988 | EF3 | 98 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2002 | EF2 | 99 km | 10.0 mi | 0 |
| May 28, 1981 | EF2 | 79 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1962 | EF2 | 81 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 10, 2007 | EF1 | 78 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2002 | EF1 | 76 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 25, 1980 | EF1 | 93 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 26, 2022 | EF0 | 40 km | 3.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 7, 2020 | EF0 | 93 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2019 | EF0 | 24 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 31, 2014 | EF0 | 57 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 13, 2014 | EF0 | 63 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2012 | EF0 | 86 km | 1.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 20, 2005 | EF0 | 80 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 17, 2005 | EF0 | 62 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 25, 2003 | EF0 | 78 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 5, 2002 | EF0 | 32 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 5, 2002 | EF0 | 74 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BLAINE C (138,192 acres, 1991).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1991 | BLAINE C | 138,192 | 58 km |
| 2003 | MISSOURI BREAKS COMPLEX | 137,947 | 94 km |
| 2006 | LOST CREEK (BLACK PULASKI COMPLEX) | 38,550 | 87 km |
| 2006 | SODA CREEK (BLACK PULASKI COMPLEX) | 33,767 | 75 km |
| 2012 | WELDER | 32,985 | 31 km |
| 2010 | RAVEN | 26,631 | 60 km |
| 1990 | VETERANS | 23,660 | 20 km |
| 2021 | TAYLOR | 21,704 | 93 km |
| 2017 | EAST FORK | 21,165 | 72 km |
| 2021 | PINE GROVE | 16,158 | 5 km |
| 2006 | LODGEPOLE (BLACK PULASKI COMPLEX) | 15,248 | 95 km |
| 2021 | DEVILS CREEK | 15,077 | 93 km |
| 2012 | WOLF CREEK | 12,168 | 66 km |
| 1984 | CENTENNIAL | 11,775 | 86 km |
| 2017 | JULY | 11,409 | 15 km |
| 1994 | CK CREEK | 11,206 | 56 km |
| 2012 | ESTER LAKE | 10,898 | 35 km |
| 2019 | RIDGETOP | 10,316 | 65 km |
| 1996 | ALKALIE | 10,044 | 84 km |
| 2012 | WELLS | 9,921 | 80 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20°F (-7°C) | 0.6 in | Coldest |
| February | 24°F (-4°C) | 0.4 in | Driest |
| March | 32°F (-0°C) | 0.7 in | |
| April | 42°F (6°C) | 1.2 in | |
| May | 52°F (11°C) | 2.6 in | Wettest |
| June | 61°F (16°C) | 2.4 in | |
| July | 69°F (21°C) | 1.7 in | Warmest |
| August | 67°F (19°C) | 1.4 in | |
| September | 56°F (13°C) | 1.4 in | |
| October | 45°F (7°C) | 0.7 in | |
| November | 30°F (-1°C) | 0.5 in | |
| December | 22°F (-6°C) | 0.6 in |
Hays has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 20°F in January to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 14.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.6") and February the driest (0.4").