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Weather & Climate in Waterton Lakes, AB
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Waterton Lakes has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 36°F (2°C). Winters average 17°F in January while summers reach 57°F in July. The area gets 277 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 32.8 inches. The area receives 15.0 inches of snow annually. The city sits at an elevation of 4,281 feet.
Temperature
17°F Jan (-8°C)
57°F Jul (14°C)
| Annual Average | 36.4°F |
| 33% below US avg | |
| January Average | 17°F (-8°C) |
| July Average | 57°F (14°C) |
| Sunny Days | 277 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 4,281 ft (1,305 m) |
| Area | 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 14/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 49.0825°N, 113.8691°W |
| Timezone | America/Edmonton |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
Earthquake History
108 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.6.
| Mar 4, 2000 | 35 km S of Pincher Creek, Canada | M4.6 | 15 km | 1 km |
| Mar 22, 2006 | 8 km SSW of Rexford, Montana | M4.3 | 101 km | 8 km |
| Jun 29, 1995 | 2 km NNW of Kila, Montana | M4.1 | 114 km | 5 km |
| May 2, 1995 | 2 km NW of Kila, Montana | M4.1 | 114 km | 9 km |
| Apr 15, 1998 | 11 km NE of Swan Lake, Montana | M4.1 | 120 km | 4 km |
| Apr 1, 1992 | 10 km ESE of Swan Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 134 km | 5 km |
| Feb 28, 2000 | 10 km NNE of Sparwood, Canada | M3.8 | 108 km | 10 km |
| Jul 2, 1992 | 4 km SSE of South Browning, Montana | M3.8 | 90 km | 10 km |
| May 1, 1997 | 35 km SSE of Magrath, Canada | M3.8 | 89 km | 5 km |
| May 2, 1995 | 3 km WNW of Kila, Montana | M3.8 | 115 km | 9 km |
| Aug 19, 1999 | 12 km ENE of Happys Inn, Montana | M3.7 | 135 km | 14 km |
| Feb 2, 1997 | 1 km NNE of Lindisfarne, Montana | M3.6 | 143 km | 5 km |
| May 10, 1990 | 47 km SSW of Heart Butte, Montana | M3.6 | 147 km | 5 km |
| Sep 29, 2009 | 42 km NW of Santa Rita, Montana | M3.6 | 90 km | 21 km |
| Apr 11, 2015 | 5 km NW of Columbia Falls, Montana | M3.5 | 80 km | 13 km |
| Jan 3, 2008 | 13 km SSE of Magrath, Canada | M3.5 | 83 km | 38 km |
| Jan 20, 2003 | 10 km S of Little Browning, Montana | M3.5 | 128 km | 1 km |
| Jul 18, 1991 | 14 km SSE of Swan Lake, Montana | M3.5 | 141 km | 5 km |
| Jun 30, 1995 | 3 km NW of Kila, Montana | M3.4 | 114 km | 9 km |
| Nov 21, 1992 | Western Montana | M3.4 | 29 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: MOOSE (73,210 acres, 2001).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2001 | MOOSE | 73,210 | 51 km |
| 2003 | ROBERT | 54,500 | 60 km |
| 2003 | WEDGE CANYON | 51,987 | 42 km |
| 2007 | SKYLAND | 41,237 | 98 km |
| 1988 | RED BENCH | 33,845 | 44 km |
| 2006 | RED EAGLE | 32,563 | 55 km |
| 2003 | RAMPAGE COMPLEX (DOUBLE MOUNTAIN 2) | 23,680 | 79 km |
| 2003 | BLACKFOOT LAKE COMPLEX (BLACKFOOT LAKE) | 18,274 | 94 km |
| 2015 | THOMPSON | 18,049 | 66 km |
| 2003 | TRAPPER CREEK FIRE (TRAPPER CREEK) | 18,028 | 34 km |
| 2017 | SPRAGUE | 16,897 | 54 km |
| 2018 | HOWE RIDGE | 14,747 | 51 km |
| 2021 | GREENHOUSE | 14,501 | 91 km |
| 2003 | TRAPPER CREEK FIRE (WOLF GUN) | 13,920 | 43 km |
| 1999 | ANACONDA | 11,452 | 46 km |
| 1994 | NORTH FORK COMPLEX (ADAIR II) | 10,329 | 44 km |
| 1994 | NORTH FORK COMPLEX (STARVATION) | 8,990 | 32 km |
| 1998 | KOOTENAI COMPLEX (MCDONALD) | 8,061 | 29 km |
| 1998 | CHALLENGE | 8,043 | 99 km |
| 2015 | MARSTON | 7,587 | 76 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17°F (-8°C) | 2.3 in | Coldest |
| February | 21°F (-6°C) | 2.1 in | Driest |
| March | 26°F (-3°C) | 2.6 in | |
| April | 34°F (1°C) | 2.9 in | |
| May | 42°F (6°C) | 3.8 in | |
| June | 50°F (10°C) | 4.1 in | Wettest |
| July | 57°F (14°C) | 2.3 in | |
| August | 57°F (14°C) | 2.2 in | Warmest |
| September | 48°F (9°C) | 2.5 in | |
| October | 39°F (4°C) | 2.7 in | |
| November | 27°F (-3°C) | 3.0 in | |
| December | 20°F (-7°C) | 2.2 in |
Waterton Lakes has a seasonal temperature swing of 40°F / from 17°F in January to 57°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 32.8 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.1") and February the driest (2.1").