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Weather & Climate in Philipsburg, MT
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Philipsburg has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 42°F (6°C). Winters average 25°F in January while summers reach 62°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 16.5 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 5,234 feet.
Temperature
25°F Jan (-4°C)
62°F Jul (17°C)
| Annual Average | 42.0°F |
| 22% below US avg | |
| January Average | 25°F (-4°C) |
| July Average | 62°F (17°C) |
| Sunny Days | 273 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 5,234 ft (1,595 m) |
| Area | 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,191/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 46.3324°N, 113.2960°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Granite County County |
| Nearest Airport | Missoula Montana (MSO) 55 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 26.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 9.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 49.6 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 29.9 / 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 Low |
| Lightning | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate |
| Avalanche | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
456 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 | 82 km | 12 km |
| Jul 26, 2005 | 16 km N of Dillon, Montana | M5.6 | 120 km | 13 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana | M5.0 | 72 km | 15 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.4 | 82 km | 10 km |
| May 8, 2007 | 8 km NNW of Alder, Montana | M4.4 | 138 km | 14 km |
| Jan 30, 2016 | 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M4.3 | 96 km | 2 km |
| Oct 28, 1998 | 18 km S of Whitehall, Montana | M4.3 | 114 km | 5 km |
| Jun 18, 2006 | 6 km S of Pony, Montana | M4.1 | 135 km | 12 km |
| Apr 8, 2000 | 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana | M4.1 | 145 km | 5 km |
| Oct 7, 2024 | 11 km E of Dillon, Montana | M4.1 | 138 km | 17 km |
| Sep 3, 2016 | 16 km S of Whitehall, Montana | M4.0 | 113 km | 8 km |
| Mar 6, 2009 | 18 km S of Whitehall, Montana | M4.0 | 114 km | 12 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 78 km | 9 km |
| Jan 18, 2006 | 18 km NNE of Dillon, Montana | M4.0 | 124 km | 9 km |
| Jul 19, 2002 | 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 124 km | 25 km |
| Jul 27, 2005 | 18 km N of Dillon, Montana | M4.0 | 119 km | 5 km |
| Jun 28, 2000 | 21 km SE of Clinton, Montana | M4.0 | 37 km | 10 km |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 85 km | 13 km |
| Nov 10, 2000 | 14 km NE of Townsend, Montana | M4.0 | 148 km | 2 km |
| Oct 19, 2017 | 12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 84 km | 4 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
13 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 1 injury.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 23, 1975 | EF2 | 83 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1982 | EF1 | 49 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 29, 1965 | EF1 | 87 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 20, 2018 | EF0 | 81 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| Sep 15, 1997 | EF0 | 44 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 9, 1992 | EF0 | 89 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| May 16, 1991 | EF0 | 58 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 15, 1990 | EF0 | 61 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Oct 16, 1988 | EF0 | 66 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 11, 1988 | EF0 | 12 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 20, 1983 | EF0 | 88 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 4, 1971 | EF0 | 43 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| May 17, 1962 | EF0 | 30 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: VALLEY COMPLEX (BEAR) (118,045 acres, 2000).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2000 | VALLEY COMPLEX (BEAR) | 118,045 | 71 km |
| 2017 | MEYERS | 68,711 | 43 km |
| 2007 | SAWMILL COMPLEX (WYMAN 2) | 68,236 | 34 km |
| 2000 | MUSSIGBROD COMPLEX (MUSSIGBROD) | 64,810 | 54 km |
| 2000 | SULA COMPLEX (MAYNARD) | 62,967 | 79 km |
| 2021 | TRAIL CREEK | 62,432 | 87 km |
| 2017 | LOLO PEAK | 62,316 | 81 km |
| 2021 | ALDER CREEK | 38,189 | 60 km |
| 2003 | LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK) | 36,987 | 99 km |
| 2007 | BRIDGE | 36,732 | 94 km |
| 2017 | LITTLE HOGBACK | 34,646 | 25 km |
| 2012 | FERN | 29,736 | 94 km |
| 2007 | ROMBO MOUNTAIN | 28,215 | 90 km |
| 2017 | LIBERTY | 27,731 | 90 km |
| 2021 | HAYSTACK | 26,118 | 84 km |
| 2007 | RAT CREEK | 25,929 | 77 km |
| 2003 | COONEY RIDGE | 25,741 | 56 km |
| 2000 | TAYLOR SPRINGS FIRES | 22,598 | 97 km |
| 2003 | MINERAL-PRIMM (MINERAL AND PRIMM) | 20,888 | 85 km |
| 2000 | VALLEY COMPLEX (COYOTE) | 20,601 | 50 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25°F (-4°C) | 0.9 in | |
| February | 24°F (-5°C) | 0.7 in | Driest |
| March | 28°F (-2°C) | 0.9 in | |
| April | 34°F (1°C) | 1.3 in | |
| May | 43°F (6°C) | 2.4 in | Wettest |
| June | 51°F (10°C) | 2.2 in | |
| July | 62°F (17°C) | 1.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 57°F (14°C) | 1.6 in | |
| September | 48°F (9°C) | 1.5 in | |
| October | 39°F (4°C) | 1.1 in | |
| November | 27°F (-3°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 20°F (-7°C) | 0.9 in | Coldest |
Philipsburg has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 20°F in December to 62°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 15.8 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.4") and February the driest (0.7").