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Weather & Climate in Stanford, MT

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

Stanford has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 45°F (7°C). Winters average 27°F in January while summers reach 67°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 17.3 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 4,286 feet.

Temperature

27°F Jan (-3°C) 67°F Jul (19°C)
Annual Average44.6°F
17% below US avg
January Average27°F (-3°C)
July Average67°F (19°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation4,286 ft (1,306 m)
Area0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Population Density619/sq mi
Coordinates47.1521°N, 110.2190°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyJudith Basin County County
Nearest AirportGreat Falls International (GTF)
59 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 17.3"
54% below US avg
Wettest Month (May) 3.39"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.59"

Air Quality

AQI Median26.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score5.5 / 100
Social Vulnerability29.6 / 100
Community Resilience49.7 / 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 Relatively Low
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Very Low
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

55 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.1.

Apr 8, 2000 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M4.1 128 km 5 km
Nov 10, 2000 14 km NE of Townsend, Montana M4.0 121 km 2 km
Feb 6, 1999 24 km E of Townsend, Montana M3.9 116 km 1 km
Jan 2, 1990 6 km NNE of Toston, Montana M3.7 137 km 1 km
Jan 9, 2003 23 km E of Wilsall, Montana M3.7 126 km 11 km
May 24, 2000 9 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M3.7 127 km 3 km
Jul 23, 2014 11 km NNE of Toston, Montana M3.6 132 km 10 km
Jun 6, 2000 7 km E of Townsend, Montana M3.3 130 km 2 km
Feb 11, 1999 23 km E of Townsend, Montana M3.3 117 km 3 km
Apr 1, 2000 9 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M3.3 128 km 7 km
Jun 16, 1999 16 km SSE of Craig, Montana M3.2 131 km 4 km
Apr 10, 2000 8 km E of Townsend, Montana M3.2 129 km 4 km
Apr 9, 2000 9 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M3.2 127 km 4 km
Jun 8, 2000 11 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M3.1 125 km 2 km
May 23, 2000 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M3.0 128 km 6 km
Jul 15, 2006 Western Montana M3.0 111 km 10 km
Dec 5, 1991 15 km WSW of Hays, Montana M3.0 133 km 10 km
Apr 8, 2009 8 km ENE of Toston, Montana M3.0 136 km 2 km
Jul 26, 2014 11 km NNE of Toston, Montana M3.0 133 km 9 km
Mar 22, 2003 5 km ESE of Helena Valley West Central, Montana M2.9 147 km 10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

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

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jul 5, 1988 EF3 83 km 10.0 mi 0
Jul 5, 1988 EF3 70 km 3.0 mi 0
Jul 5, 1988 EF3 93 km 12.0 mi 0
Jul 8, 2002 EF2 67 km 10.0 mi 0
Aug 14, 1999 EF2 61 km 5.0 mi 0
Jun 25, 1996 EF2 42 km 2.0 mi 0
Apr 24, 1994 EF2 5 km 1.5 mi 0
Apr 24, 1994 EF2 5 km 1.0 mi 0
May 28, 1981 EF2 91 km 1.5 mi 0
Jun 8, 1976 EF2 24 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 30, 1975 EF2 83 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 10, 1965 EF2 42 km 2.0 mi 0
Jul 20, 1964 EF2 90 km 2.0 mi 0
Jun 5, 2012 EF1 84 km 2.8 mi 0
Jun 16, 2007 EF1 35 km 5.3 mi 0
Apr 22, 2003 EF1 1 km 2.0 mi 0
Aug 23, 1998 EF1 43 km 3.5 mi 0
Jun 19, 1998 EF1 59 km 1.0 mi 0
Jun 1, 1980 EF1 89 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 99 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 19 km
2021 TAYLOR 21,704 58 km
2021 SOUTH MOCCASIN 12,727 53 km
2009 MEISSNER 12,318 33 km
1985 SANDPOINT 10,439 45 km
2021 BALSINGER 8,317 54 km
2020 LOUSE CREEK 5,237 31 km
1988 TWO DOT 5,097 90 km
1991 BURNETTEPK 4,644 67 km
2020 YOGO 4,429 35 km
2008 CHOUTEAU CO COMPLEX 4,365 91 km
2019 STUCKEY RD MA 4,073 98 km
1996 COYOTE 3,320 54 km
2020 EAGLE ROCK ROAD 3,129 31 km
2020 LODE ROAD 2,736 71 km
2001 TWIN COULE 2,688 96 km
2007 CHOUTEAU CO ASST 2,646 69 km
2001 LOST FORK-MONARCH COMPLEX (LOST FORK) 2,313 52 km
2007 2007 HAZ FUEL REDUCTION 2,159 67 km
2021 FOUR SISTERS 1,999 41 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 27°F (-3°C) 0.8 in
February 26°F (-3°C) 0.6 in Driest
March 33°F (0°C) 1.1 in
April 41°F (5°C) 1.5 in
May 49°F (10°C) 3.4 in Wettest
June 58°F (14°C) 3.1 in
July 67°F (19°C) 1.9 in Warmest
August 64°F (18°C) 1.9 in
September 55°F (13°C) 1.8 in
October 45°F (7°C) 1.1 in
November 32°F (0°C) 0.8 in
December 25°F (-4°C) 0.8 in Coldest

Stanford has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 25°F in December to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 18.7 inches, with May being the wettest month (3.4") and February the driest (0.6").

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