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Weather & Climate in Sun River, MT
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Sun River has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 44°F (7°C). Winters average 26°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 12.4 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 3,416 feet.
Temperature
26°F Jan (-3°C)
67°F Jul (19°C)
| Annual Average | 44.4°F |
| 18% below US avg | |
| January Average | 26°F (-3°C) |
| July Average | 67°F (19°C) |
| Sunny Days | 273 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,416 ft (1,041 m) |
| Area | 1.9 sq mi (4.8 km²) |
| Population Density | 33/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 47.5305°N, 111.7240°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Cascade County County |
| Nearest Airport | Great Falls International (GTF) 17 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 26.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 83.1 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 27.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 76.3 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Very High |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Very Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
321 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 | 97 km | 12 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana | M5.0 | 107 km | 15 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.4 | 97 km | 10 km |
| Jan 30, 2016 | 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M4.3 | 84 km | 2 km |
| Apr 8, 2000 | 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana | M4.1 | 134 km | 5 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 101 km | 9 km |
| Jul 19, 2002 | 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 100 km | 25 km |
| Nov 10, 2000 | 14 km NE of Townsend, Montana | M4.0 | 129 km | 2 km |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 94 km | 13 km |
| Feb 6, 1999 | 24 km E of Townsend, Montana | M3.9 | 136 km | 1 km |
| Apr 1, 1993 | 15 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 85 km | 5 km |
| Oct 19, 2017 | 12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 95 km | 4 km |
| Jun 2, 1996 | 37 km N of Ovando, Montana | M3.9 | 102 km | 5 km |
| Aug 16, 1994 | 27 km W of Chester, Montana | M3.9 | 111 km | 5 km |
| Mar 13, 2017 | 4 km ESE of Avon, Montana | M3.8 | 123 km | 20 km |
| Jun 1, 1996 | 23 km N of Ovando, Montana | M3.8 | 114 km | 10 km |
| Mar 21, 1992 | 20 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 119 km | 5 km |
| May 7, 1992 | 14 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 125 km | 5 km |
| Jul 5, 2024 | 24 km ENE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M3.8 | 115 km | 22 km |
| Jul 2, 1992 | 4 km SSE of South Browning, Montana | M3.8 | 144 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
33 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2. Total: 5 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 30, 1975 | EF2 | 62 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 2, 1966 | EF2 | 43 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1998 | EF1 | 14 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jun 19, 1998 | EF1 | 85 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1988 | EF1 | 21 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 1, 1980 | EF1 | 64 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1978 | EF1 | 28 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1978 | EF1 | 28 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1978 | EF1 | 28 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 1, 1977 | EF1 | 8 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1965 | EF1 | 75 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 2, 1964 | EF1 | 22 km | 27.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1962 | EF1 | 15 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 29, 1961 | EF1 | 49 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 29, 1960 | EF1 | 70 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Jun 23, 2018 | EF0 | 70 km | 1.4 mi | 0 |
| Aug 5, 2002 | EF0 | 97 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 2000 | EF0 | 69 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1999 | EF0 | 95 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1993 | EF0 | 32 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: CANYON CREEK (167,875 acres, 1988).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 1988 | CANYON CREEK | 167,875 | 84 km |
| 2007 | AHORN | 45,633 | 93 km |
| 1988 | GATES PARK | 42,493 | 96 km |
| 2003 | LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK) | 36,987 | 83 km |
| 2021 | HARRIS MTN | 31,792 | 47 km |
| 2017 | ALICE CREEK | 29,971 | 69 km |
| 2012 | ELBOW PASS COMPLEX | 28,989 | 89 km |
| 1984 | NORTH HILL | 27,162 | 82 km |
| 2000 | CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (CAVE GULCH) | 26,997 | 93 km |
| 2007 | MERIWETHER | 18,865 | 73 km |
| 2017 | PARK CREEK | 17,915 | 94 km |
| 2013 | RED SHALE | 13,712 | 98 km |
| 1990 | BEARTOOTH COMPLEX | 13,462 | 63 km |
| 2015 | MOOSE RIDGE | 11,395 | 91 km |
| 1993 | FREEZEOUT LAKE | 9,793 | 36 km |
| 2021 | BALSINGER | 8,317 | 87 km |
| 2001 | BIGGS FLAT | 7,303 | 91 km |
| 2005 | HAZARD LAKE WFU | 4,894 | 89 km |
| 2009 | INDIAN TRAIL | 4,592 | 63 km |
| 2022 | URSUS | 4,291 | 96 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26°F (-3°C) | 0.5 in | |
| February | 28°F (-2°C) | 0.3 in | Driest |
| March | 35°F (2°C) | 0.8 in | |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 1.1 in | |
| May | 53°F (12°C) | 2.3 in | Wettest |
| June | 61°F (16°C) | 2.2 in | |
| July | 67°F (19°C) | 1.4 in | Warmest |
| August | 66°F (19°C) | 1.5 in | |
| September | 56°F (13°C) | 1.1 in | |
| October | 47°F (8°C) | 0.6 in | |
| November | 34°F (1°C) | 0.4 in | |
| December | 26°F (-4°C) | 0.5 in | Coldest |
Sun River has a seasonal temperature swing of 41°F / from 26°F in December to 67°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.3") and February the driest (0.3").