Local Weather & Climate

Butte generally has a semi-arid climate. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 5°F (-16°C) to 81°F (27°C) and is rarely below -14°F (-26°C) or above 89°F (32°C).

Located high in the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 5,538 ft (1,688 m) above sea level, Butte has large swings in daily temperature, with temperatures typically dropping throughout the night and rising during the day. This high elevation also makes Butte slightly cooler on average than other cities in the region, giving the city an ideally temperate climate during the hot summer months. While the weather can and often does change rapidly, on average, Butte boasts 186 sunny days per year.

The length of the day also varies significantly over the course of the year, with relatively short days in winter months and very long days during the summer peak. The shortest days occur in December and January, when the sun rises shortly after 8:00 a.m. and sets just before 5:00 p.m. The longest days are in June and July, when the sun rises between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. and sets near 9:30 p.m., offering more than 15 hours of Big Sky daylight.

The warmest part of the year stretches over the summer Festival Season from June 19 to September 9 with an average daily high temperature above 70°F (21°C). The hottest day of the year is July 28, with an average high of 81°F (27°C) and low of 47°F (8°C).

The coldest part of the year runs from November 16 to March 1 with an average daily high temperature below 38°F (3°C). The coldest day of the year is December 27, with an average low of 5°F (-15°C) and high of 27°F (-3°C).

The typical ski and snowboard season at nearby Discovery Ski Area runs for more than 110 days, stretching from about late November until early April. In some areas around Butte, snowfall provides even more opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

Climate data for Butte from Wikipedia: