Big Timber, MT climate
Big Timber has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 55 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Big Timber feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Big Timber weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 18° | 0.4" | 7.1" | 5 | 18° – 36° |
| February | 40° | 18° | 0.5" | 10.8" | 4 | 11° – 40° |
| March | 49° | 24° | 0.8" | 9.1" | 6 | 26° – 45° |
| April | 56° | 31° | 1.7" | 3.6" | 9 | 37° – 48° |
| May | 66° | 39° | 2.6" | 0.6" | 11 | 47° – 57° |
| June | 75° | 47° | 2.4" | 0 | 11 | 56° – 66° |
| July | 85° | 52° | 1.3" | 0 | 8 | 59° – 75° |
| August | 84° | 50° | 1.0" | 0 | 5 | 62° – 72° |
| September | 74° | 42° | 1.2" | 0.5" | 6 | 54° – 64° |
| October | 60° | 33° | 1.2" | 4.8" | 7 | 38° – 52° |
| November | 46° | 24° | 0.6" | 7.9" | 5 | 27° – 47° |
| December | 37° | 17° | 0.5" | 10.2" | 4 | 18° – 35° |
| Year | 59° | 33° | 14.3" | 54.6" | 82 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Big Timber
Big Timber gets 14 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 82 days a year.
About 133 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 14 and the first one by September 26. That leaves about 133 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 93% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Big Timber
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Big Timber, 95% of that work is heating and 5% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Big Timber compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Big Timber averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.2°). The shift is larger than in 63% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Big Timber’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 11° to 40°. May is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Big Timber’s climate
What is the coldest month in Big Timber?
December, with a typical high of 37° and a low of 17°.
What is the hottest month in Big Timber?
July, with a typical high of 85° and a low of 52°. About 27 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Big Timber get?
About 55 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Big Timber?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 26, and the last spring frost by May 14.
What is the rainiest month in Big Timber?
May, with 2.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 14 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Big Timber itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Big Timber, MT (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.