Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Salmon 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 293 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 9.5 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 22.0 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 33. The city sits at an elevation of 3,945 feet.
Temperature
20°F Jan (-7°C)69°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average
44.4°F
18% below US avg
January Average
20°F (-7°C)
July Average
69°F (21°C)
Sunny Days
293 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
3,945 ft (1,202 m)
Area
2.4 sq mi (6.1 km²)
Population Density
1,273/sq mi
Coordinates
45.1744°N, 113.8948°W
Timezone
America/Boise
County
Lemhi County County
Nearest Airport
Missoula Montana (MSO) 121 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall9.5"
75% below US avg
Snowfall22.0"
Wettest Month (Jun)1.65"
Driest Month (Feb)0.55"
Air Quality
AQI Median
33.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Very Low
Risk Score
41.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability
51.4 / 100
Community Resilience
5.0 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Very Low
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Moderate
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Very Low
Strong Wind
Very Low
Heat Wave
Very Low
Winter Weather
Very Low
Lightning
Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm
Very Low
Drought
Very Low
Cold Wave
Relatively Low
Landslide
Relatively Moderate
Volcano
Very Low
Avalanche
Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1,732 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M6.5.
Mar 31, 2020
Stanley, Idaho
M6.5
125 km
12 km
Jul 26, 2005
16 km N of Dillon, Montana
M5.6
102 km
13 km
Aug 20, 1999
22 km NW of Lima, Montana
M5.1
97 km
16 km
Jan 3, 2015
9 km E of Challis, Idaho
M5.0
76 km
9 km
Jun 7, 1994
18 km E of Challis, Idaho
M4.8
76 km
5 km
Apr 13, 2014
15 km NNW of Challis, Idaho
M4.8
71 km
4 km
Apr 1, 2020
21 km WNW of Stanley, Idaho
M4.8
138 km
10 km
Apr 9, 2019
9 km NE of Lima, Montana
M4.6
121 km
14 km
May 4, 1992
20 km E of Challis, Idaho
M4.6
74 km
10 km
Jun 25, 2020
27 km NW of Stanley, Idaho
M4.6
133 km
8 km
May 6, 1992
17 km E of Challis, Idaho
M4.4
78 km
5 km
Dec 28, 1991
southern Idaho
M4.4
71 km
5 km
May 14, 2020
31 km NW of Stanley, Idaho
M4.4
134 km
13 km
Apr 1, 2020
23 km NW of Stanley, Idaho
M4.4
137 km
7 km
May 8, 2007
8 km NNW of Alder, Montana
M4.4
140 km
14 km
Apr 14, 2014
13 km NW of Challis, Idaho
M4.4
73 km
7 km
May 21, 2020
26 km NW of Stanley, Idaho
M4.4
132 km
6 km
Feb 17, 1992
33 km NNE of Stanley, Idaho
M4.3
102 km
5 km
Mar 22, 1992
11 km NE of Challis, Idaho
M4.3
68 km
5 km
Jan 28, 1995
33 km NNE of Stanley, Idaho
M4.3
103 km
5 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
15 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF2.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Jun 14, 1962
EF2
46 km
0.1 mi
0
May 19, 1962
EF2
95 km
2.0 mi
0
Jul 3, 1988
EF1
43 km
0.2 mi
0
Jun 15, 1987
EF1
1 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 24, 1984
EF1
31 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 6, 1976
EF1
46 km
3.0 mi
0
May 29, 1965
EF1
91 km
0.1 mi
0
Jun 1, 1956
EF1
3 km
0.5 mi
0
Aug 20, 2018
EF0
61 km
0.8 mi
0
Jul 10, 2016
EF0
98 km
0.0 mi
0
Apr 24, 2008
EF0
76 km
0.1 mi
0
Jul 19, 1997
EF0
82 km
0.1 mi
0
May 16, 1991
EF0
80 km
0.2 mi
0
Jul 14, 1962
EF0
46 km
0.1 mi
0
Aug 2, 1959
EF0
75 km
0.1 mi
0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km.
Closest: Craters of the Moon (198 km).
Name
Type
Elevation
Last Eruption
Distance
Craters of the Moon
Pyroclastic cone(s)
2,005 m (6,578 ft)
-130
198 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: MUSTANG COMPLEX (377,632 acres, 2012).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2012
MUSTANG COMPLEX
377,632
58 km
2000
DIAMOND COMPLEX (DIAMOND PEAK)
271,361
79 km
2000
CLEAR CREEK DIVIDE COMPLEX (CLEAR CREEK)
170,322
35 km
2022
MOOSE
142,221
25 km
2000
VALLEY COMPLEX (BEAR)
118,045
94 km
2017
MEYERS
68,711
94 km
2000
MUSSIGBROD COMPLEX (MUSSIGBROD)
64,810
84 km
2000
SULA COMPLEX (MAYNARD)
62,967
70 km
2021
TRAIL CREEK
62,432
51 km
2007
SHOWER BATH COMPLEX (SHOWER BATH)
50,967
77 km
2007
SHOWER BATH COMPLEX (RED BLUFF)
50,106
83 km
2007
KRASSEL COMPLEX (TAG WFU)
49,358
81 km
1988
GOLDEN
48,138
68 km
1988
SLIVER CREEK
45,076
85 km
2013
GOLD PAN COMPLEX
43,216
80 km
1996
SWET-WARRIOR COMPLEX (SWET CREEK)
39,495
76 km
2021
ALDER CREEK
38,189
91 km
2006
MIDDLE FORK COMPLEX
33,860
98 km
2018
RABBIT FOOT
33,787
45 km
2023
HAYDEN
32,292
54 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
20°F (-7°C)
0.8 in
Coldest
February
25°F (-4°C)
0.6 in
Driest
March
33°F (1°C)
0.8 in
April
41°F (5°C)
0.9 in
May
49°F (9°C)
1.6 in
June
57°F (14°C)
1.7 in
Wettest
July
69°F (21°C)
1.1 in
Warmest
August
62°F (17°C)
1.0 in
September
53°F (12°C)
1.0 in
October
43°F (6°C)
0.8 in
November
30°F (-1°C)
0.8 in
December
21°F (-6°C)
0.8 in
Salmon has a seasonal temperature swing of 49°F / from 20°F in January to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 11.6 inches, with June being the wettest month (1.7") and February the driest (0.6").