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Weather & Climate in Lincoln, MT

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

Lincoln has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 41°F (5°C). Winters average 22°F in January while summers reach 63°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 18.8 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 49. 51% of days have good air quality. The city sits at an elevation of 4,557 feet.

Temperature

22°F Jan (-6°C) 63°F Jul (17°C)
Annual Average41.0°F
24% below US avg
January Average22°F (-6°C)
July Average63°F (17°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation4,557 ft (1,389 m)
Area18.1 sq mi (46.8 km²)
Population Density49/sq mi
Coordinates46.9534°N, 112.6715°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyPowell County County
Nearest AirportHelena Regional (HLN)
40 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 18.8"
51% below US avg
Wettest Month (May) 2.36"
Driest Month (Feb) 1.06"

Air Quality

AQI Median49.0
RatingGood
Good Days %50.7%
Unhealthy Days2

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score10.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability58.1 / 100
Community Resilience19.4 / 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 Moderate
Lightning Very Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

401 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 11 km 12 km
Jul 6, 2017 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana M5.0 16 km 15 km
Jul 6, 2017 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana M4.4 14 km 10 km
Jan 30, 2016 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana M4.3 19 km 2 km
Oct 28, 1998 18 km S of Whitehall, Montana M4.3 145 km 5 km
Apr 8, 2000 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M4.1 118 km 5 km
Apr 15, 1998 11 km NE of Swan Lake, Montana M4.1 143 km 4 km
Sep 3, 2016 16 km S of Whitehall, Montana M4.0 143 km 8 km
Mar 6, 2009 18 km S of Whitehall, Montana M4.0 145 km 12 km
Apr 1, 1992 10 km ESE of Swan Lake, Montana M4.0 131 km 5 km
Jul 17, 2017 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana M4.0 12 km 13 km
Jun 28, 2000 21 km SE of Clinton, Montana M4.0 75 km 10 km
Nov 10, 2000 14 km NE of Townsend, Montana M4.0 117 km 2 km
Jul 19, 2002 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M4.0 60 km 25 km
Jul 6, 2017 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana M4.0 14 km 9 km
Jun 2, 1996 37 km N of Ovando, Montana M3.9 53 km 5 km
Oct 19, 2017 12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana M3.9 12 km 4 km
Apr 1, 1993 15 km E of Lincoln, Montana M3.9 15 km 5 km
Feb 6, 1999 24 km E of Townsend, Montana M3.9 130 km 1 km
Mar 13, 2017 4 km ESE of Avon, Montana M3.8 43 km 20 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

19 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jul 2, 1966 EF2 67 km 0.8 mi 0
Jun 28, 1982 EF1 62 km 0.5 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 98 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 98 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 98 km 1.0 mi 0
Jun 1, 1977 EF1 89 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 2, 1964 EF1 88 km 27.0 mi 0
Jun 22, 1962 EF1 93 km 0.1 mi 0
Sep 15, 1997 EF0 96 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 27, 1997 EF0 64 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 7, 1995 EF0 94 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 21, 1993 EF0 49 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 11, 1993 EF0 66 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 9, 1992 EF0 27 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 11, 1988 EF0 72 km 2.0 mi 0
May 4, 1971 EF0 41 km 0.5 mi 0
May 17, 1962 EF0 62 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 22, 1960 EF0 65 km 1.0 mi 0
Jun 7, 1953 EF0 53 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 54 km
1988 CANYON CREEK 167,875 32 km
2007 SAWMILL COMPLEX (WYMAN 2) 68,236 93 km
2007 AHORN 45,633 70 km
1988 GATES PARK 42,493 98 km
2003 LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK) 36,987 16 km
1988 CANYON CREEK 35,865 88 km
2007 JOCKO LAKES 35,759 80 km
2017 LITTLE HOGBACK 34,646 92 km
2003 LITTLE SALMON CREEK 33,044 87 km
2021 HARRIS MTN 31,792 77 km
2017 ALICE CREEK 29,971 27 km
2012 ELBOW PASS COMPLEX 28,989 51 km
2017 LIBERTY 27,731 82 km
2003 BARTLETT MOUNTAIN 27,614 70 km
1984 NORTH HILL 27,162 61 km
2000 CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (CAVE GULCH) 26,997 85 km
2021 HAYSTACK 26,118 95 km
2003 COONEY RIDGE 25,741 93 km
2007 CONGER CREEK 22,936 38 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 22°F (-6°C) 1.6 in
February 25°F (-4°C) 1.1 in Driest
March 30°F (-1°C) 1.1 in
April 38°F (3°C) 1.4 in
May 46°F (8°C) 2.4 in Wettest
June 54°F (12°C) 2.2 in
July 63°F (17°C) 1.3 in Warmest
August 60°F (16°C) 1.5 in
September 51°F (11°C) 1.4 in
October 42°F (5°C) 1.1 in
November 29°F (-2°C) 1.2 in
December 21°F (-6°C) 1.5 in Coldest

Lincoln has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 21°F in December to 63°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 17.4 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.4") and February the driest (1.1").

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