Dry weather: only 15 inches of rain and melted snow a year in Charlos Heights, less than in 93% of U.S. towns
January nights here settle around 19°. Temperatures cover 67° across the year, low to high. Winter nights are cold: in January they are colder than in 64% of U.S. towns. Central heating does most of its work from October to April, in months below 50° on average.
A year in Charlos Heights at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Charlos Heights’ climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Charlos Heights’ place in Montana beside it.
What a year in Charlos Heights feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 122 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 21 and the first by September 22. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Hamilton, MT, 8 miles from the town’s center, 150 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Charlos Heights’ center in zone 5b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −11°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 15 inches of rain a year
June is the wettest month and August the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Charlos Heights
97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Hamilton, MT.
Living with Charlos Heights’ climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
122 frost-free days in zone 5b. The last frost comes by May 21 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 22.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, August and September. 1.4 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Charlos Heights from natural hazards, wildfire is the largest share (45%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 7%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Charlos Heights and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Charlos Heights yet.
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Charlos Heights averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.7°).
A smaller shift than in 68% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Charlos Heights compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Charlos Heights’ place among Montana’s.
Charlos Heights weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Charlos Heights’ center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 19° | 1.1" | 17° – 33° |
| February | 40° | 21° | 1.0" | 21° – 37° |
| March | 50° | 27° | 1.0" | 31° – 43° |
| April | 57° | 32° | 1.1" | 40° – 50° |
| May | 67° | 38° | 1.6" | 48° – 57° |
| June | 74° | 45° | 2.0" | 56° – 67° |
| July | 85° | 49° | 0.9" | 58° – 74° |
| August | 84° | 48° | 0.9" | 61° – 69° |
| September | 74° | 41° | 1.0" | 54° – 62° |
| October | 58° | 32° | 1.3" | 39° – 50° |
| November | 43° | 24° | 1.3" | 27° – 40° |
| December | 34° | 18° | 1.3" | 20° – 30° |
| Year | 58° | 33° | 14.5" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 21° to 37°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Charlos Heights’ numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Charlos Heights’ center.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Hamilton, MT, 8 miles from the town’s center, 150 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Charlos Heights’ climate
What is the weather like in Charlos Heights?
A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 19°. Colder January nights than 64% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 50% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Charlos Heights in winter?
December nights average 18°. About 173 nights a year reach 32° or below and 7 reach 0° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 20°.
How hot does it get in Charlos Heights?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 49°. About 22 days a year reach 90° (Hamilton, MT).
When is the first and last frost in Charlos Heights?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 21 and the first fall frost by September 22, about 122 frost-free days, at Hamilton, MT.
What growing zone is Charlos Heights in?
Zone 5b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −11°.
What is the best time of year to visit Charlos Heights?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Charlos Heights getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.1° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 68% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Charlos Heights.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.