Weather & Climate in Square Butte, MT

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

Square Butte experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 47°F (8°C). Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 71°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 16.9 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 3,139 feet.

Temperature

26°F Jan (-3°C) 71°F Jul (21°C)

Annual Average	46.9°F
	13% below US avg
January Average	26°F (-3°C)
July Average	71°F (21°C)
Sunny Days	273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	3,139 ft (957 m)
Area	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
Population Density	86/sq mi
Coordinates	47.5142°N, 110.1991°W
Timezone	America/Denver
County	Chouteau County County
Nearest Airport	Great Falls International (GTF) 55 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 16.9"

56% below US avg

Wettest Month (May) 3.23"

Driest Month (Feb) 0.51"

Air Quality

AQI Median	26.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	39.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability	65.4 / 100
Community Resilience	24.9 / 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 Low
Ice Storm	Very Low
Drought	Relatively Low
Cold Wave	Relatively Moderate
Landslide	Very Low
Avalanche	Relatively Moderate

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

18 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M3.9.

Aug 16, 1994	27 km W of Chester, Montana	M3.9	137 km	5 km
Feb 6, 1999	24 km E of Townsend, Montana	M3.9	150 km	1 km
Jun 16, 1999	16 km SSE of Craig, Montana	M3.2	145 km	4 km
Dec 5, 1991	15 km WSW of Hays, Montana	M3.0	109 km	10 km
Jul 15, 2006	Western Montana	M3.0	148 km	10 km
Jan 1, 2025	28 km ENE of Helena Valley Northeast, Montana	M2.9	134 km	20 km
Sep 15, 2012	23 km SSW of White Sulphur Springs, Montana	M2.9	143 km	8 km
Jul 15, 2006	28 km S of White Sulphur Springs, Montana	M2.8	147 km	10 km
May 6, 2014	10 km SSW of Cascade, Montana	M2.8	124 km	13 km
Apr 11, 2010	33 km ENE of Helena Valley Northeast, Montana	M2.8	128 km	18 km
Aug 25, 2012	28 km S of White Sulphur Springs, Montana	M2.8	148 km	10 km
Oct 16, 2011	Eastern Montana	M2.7	137 km	21 km
Jan 1, 2025	28 km ENE of Helena Valley Northeast, Montana	M2.7	133 km	15 km
May 10, 2024	13 km WSW of Cascade, Montana	M2.6	129 km	26 km
Apr 27, 2012	11 km SSW of Craig, Montana	M2.6	149 km	10 km
Aug 17, 2012	28 km S of White Sulphur Springs, Montana	M2.5	148 km	9 km
Feb 25, 2013	28 km WSW of Chester, Montana	M2.5	127 km	18 km
Mar 20, 2025	23 km SSE of Craig, Montana	M2.5	139 km	5 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

70 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 11 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Jul 5, 1988	EF3	36 km	3.0 mi	0
Jul 5, 1988	EF3	45 km	10.0 mi	0
Jul 5, 1988	EF3	53 km	12.0 mi	0
Jul 8, 2002	EF2	70 km	10.0 mi	0
Aug 14, 1999	EF2	77 km	5.0 mi	0
Jun 25, 1996	EF2	33 km	2.0 mi	0
Apr 24, 1994	EF2	43 km	1.0 mi	0
Apr 24, 1994	EF2	43 km	1.5 mi	0
May 28, 1981	EF2	88 km	1.5 mi	0
Jun 8, 1976	EF2	20 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 30, 1975	EF2	98 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 10, 1965	EF2	81 km	2.0 mi	0
Jun 16, 2007	EF1	68 km	5.3 mi	0
Apr 22, 2003	EF1	41 km	2.0 mi	0
Aug 23, 1998	EF1	67 km	3.5 mi	0
Jun 19, 1998	EF1	32 km	1.0 mi	0
Jun 1, 1980	EF1	64 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 3, 1978	EF1	100 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 3, 1978	EF1	100 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 3, 1978	EF1	100 km	1.0 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: TURKEY (25,658 acres, 1990).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
1990	TURKEY	25,658	59 km
2021	TAYLOR	21,704	42 km
2017	EAST FORK	21,165	92 km
2021	SOUTH MOCCASIN	12,727	63 km
2009	MEISSNER	12,318	9 km
1984	CENTENNIAL	11,775	86 km
1985	SANDPOINT	10,439	83 km
2021	BALSINGER	8,317	78 km
2022	EAGLE CREEK	6,359	82 km
2020	LOUSE CREEK	5,237	52 km
1991	BURNETTEPK	4,644	76 km
1988	LOSTCANYON	4,532	82 km
2020	YOGO	4,429	71 km
2008	CHOUTEAU CO COMPLEX	4,365	52 km
2019	STUCKEY RD MA	4,073	87 km
2008	UNIT 3 MARSH HAZ FUEL REDUCTION	3,333	87 km
1996	COYOTE	3,320	85 km
2020	EAGLE ROCK ROAD	3,129	36 km
2022	BENTON LAKE UNIT 3 AND 4B	2,996	88 km
2007	CHOUTEAU CO ASST	2,646	33 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	26°F (-3°C)	0.8 in
February	27°F (-3°C)	0.5 in	Driest
March	35°F (2°C)	0.9 in
April	44°F (7°C)	1.2 in
May	53°F (12°C)	3.2 in	Wettest
June	62°F (17°C)	2.6 in
July	71°F (21°C)	1.6 in	Warmest
August	68°F (20°C)	1.7 in
September	57°F (14°C)	1.5 in
October	47°F (8°C)	0.9 in
November	33°F (0°C)	0.6 in
December	25°F (-4°C)	0.8 in	Coldest

Square Butte has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 25°F in December to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 16.3 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.2") and February the driest (0.5").

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