W. C. Child Ranch · Photo: Robstutz · CC BY-SA 3.0Dry weather: only 14 inches of rain and melted snow a year in Montana City, less than in 94% of U.S. towns
On a normal January night the air cools to about 15°. By January nights alone, it runs colder than 85% of U.S. towns. Compared with 1901–2000, the average now sits 1.3° higher. Seedlings are safe outdoors from about June 18, with the first autumn frost due around September 5.
A year in Montana City at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Montana City’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Montana City’s place in Montana State beside it.
What a year in Montana City feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 81 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by June 18 and the first by September 5. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Tizer Gardens, MT, 11 miles from the town’s center, 170 ft higher.
The 2023 USDA map puts Montana City’s center in zone 4b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −20°. 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 37 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Helena Rgnl Airport, falls mostly in December. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 14 inches a year; June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 91 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Montana City
99% 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 Tizer Gardens, MT.
Living with Montana City’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
81 frost-free days in zone 4b. The last frost comes by Jun 18 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 5.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 16 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Montana City from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (30%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 33%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Montana City and its neighbors
Clancy has the coldest January nights next door (13°, 1° colder). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Montana City’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana City, MT | 15° | 83° | 14" | 37" |
| Cody, WY | 14° | 85° | 11" | 45" |
| Taos, NM | 11° | 84° | 13" | 28" |
| Cimarron Hills, CO | 18° | 85° | 17" | 33" |
| Doney Park, AZ | 17° | 86° | 16" | 52" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Montana City averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.3°).
A smaller shift than in 55% 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 Montana City compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Montana City’s place among Montana State’s.
Montana City weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Montana City’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Helena Rgnl Airport. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34° | 15° | 0.4" | 6.6" | 7 | 18 | 15° – 32° |
| February | 36° | 16° | 0.5" | 6.6" | 7 | 11 | 10° – 36° |
| March | 47° | 23° | 0.8" | 4.6" | 7 | 5 | 25° – 43° |
| April | 55° | 30° | 1.4" | 2.9" | 9 | 1 | 37° – 48° |
| May | 64° | 39° | 2.3" | 0.1" | 11 | 0 | 46° – 56° |
| June | 73° | 46° | 2.6" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 54° – 66° |
| July | 83° | 51° | 1.2" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 57° – 74° |
| August | 82° | 49° | 1.1" | 0.3" | 6 | 0 | 60° – 70° |
| September | 72° | 42° | 1.2" | 0.2" | 6 | 0 | 52° – 61° |
| October | 57° | 32° | 1.1" | 2.8" | 7 | 2 | 37° – 51° |
| November | 42° | 23° | 0.7" | 5.4" | 7 | 6 | 24° – 41° |
| December | 33° | 15° | 0.5" | 7.7" | 7 | 14 | 14° – 30° |
| Year | 56° | 32° | 13.8" | 37.2" | 91 | 57 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 10° to 36°. September is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Where Montana City’s 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 Montana City’s center.
- Snow: Helena Rgnl Airport.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Tizer Gardens, MT, 11 miles from the town’s center, 170 ft higher; 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 Montana City’s climate
What is the weather like in Montana City?
A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 37 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 85% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 66% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Montana City in winter?
January nights average 15°. About 223 nights a year reach 32° or below and 27 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 15°.
How much snow does Montana City get?
About 37 inches in a normal winter at Helena Rgnl Airport, most of it in December, with snow on the ground about 57 days a year.
How hot does it get in Montana City?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 51°. About 11 days a year reach 90° (Tizer Gardens, MT).
When is the first and last frost in Montana City?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by June 18 and the first fall frost by September 5, about 81 frost-free days, at Tizer Gardens, MT.
What growing zone is Montana City in?
Zone 4b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −20°.
What is the best time of year to visit Montana City?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Montana City getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.3° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 55% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Montana City.
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.