Few U.S. towns have cooler summers than Parker School
In January the night’s low is typically 13°. Winter nights are cold: in January they are colder than in 90% of U.S. towns. Compared with 1901–2000, the average now sits 1.7° higher. Central heating does most of its work from October to May, in months below 50° on average.
A year in Parker School at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Parker School’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Parker School’s place in Montana beside it.
What a year in Parker School feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 69 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Warrick 2 Nw, MT, falls mostly in January. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 20 inches a year; June is the wettest month and March the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 96 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Living with Parker School’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
Zone 4b.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 1.6 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Cold waves are 71% of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Parker School from natural hazards, the largest share. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Parker School and its neighbors
Rocky Boy's Agency has the coldest January nights next door (11°, 2° colder) and Rocky Boy's Agency the hottest July afternoons (80°, 2° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Parker School’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parker School, MT | 13° | 78° | 20" | 69" |
| Jackson, WY | 6° | 80° | 19" | 78" |
| Estes Park, CO | 11° | 79° | 19" | 118" |
| Alpena, MI | 14° | 78° | 31" | 59" |
| Sturgeon Bay, WI | 13° | 77° | 32" | 57" |
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 Parker School averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+5.1°).
A bigger shift than in 71% 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 Parker School compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Parker School’s place among Montana’s.
Parker School weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Parker School’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Warrick 2 Nw, MT. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33° | 13° | 0.8" | 12.9" | 8 | 9° – 36° |
| February | 34° | 13° | 0.8" | 11.5" | 7 | 0° – 38° |
| March | 42° | 21° | 0.8" | 8.5" | 8 | 15° – 39° |
| April | 51° | 28° | 1.6" | 9.0" | 9 | 34° – 44° |
| May | 61° | 37° | 3.0" | 2.3" | 11 | 45° – 54° |
| June | 69° | 44° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 12 | 53° – 61° |
| July | 78° | 50° | 2.2" | 0.0" | 8 | 55° – 71° |
| August | 78° | 49° | 1.4" | 0.0" | 6 | 58° – 69° |
| September | 67° | 41° | 1.7" | 0.3" | 7 | 49° – 60° |
| October | 53° | 31° | 1.7" | 3.4" | 8 | 35° – 48° |
| November | 41° | 21° | 1.0" | 9.5" | 7 | 19° – 41° |
| December | 34° | 15° | 0.8" | 11.3" | 7 | 11° – 33° |
| Year | 53° | 30° | 19.5" | 68.7" | 96 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 0° to 38°. June is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Parker School’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 Parker School’s center.
- Snow: Warrick 2 Nw, MT.
- 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 Parker School’s climate
What is the weather like in Parker School?
A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 69 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 90% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 96% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Parker School in winter?
January nights average 13°. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 9°.
How much snow does Parker School get?
About 69 inches in a normal winter at Warrick 2 Nw, MT, most of it in January.
How hot does it get in Parker School?
July, with a typical high of 78°. 90° days are rare.
What growing zone is Parker School in?
Zone 4b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −24°.
What is the best time of year to visit Parker School?
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 Parker School getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.7° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 71% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Parker School.
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.