Cardwell, MT climate
Cardwell has cold winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 13°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Cardwell feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Cardwell weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 13° | 0.3" | 17° – 31° |
| February | 40° | 15° | 0.3" | 16° – 36° |
| March | 50° | 23° | 0.9" | 29° – 42° |
| April | 57° | 29° | 1.6" | 37° – 48° |
| May | 67° | 37° | 2.1" | 48° – 57° |
| June | 76° | 44° | 2.5" | 54° – 67° |
| July | 86° | 49° | 1.1" | 57° – 75° |
| August | 85° | 47° | 1.0" | 59° – 70° |
| September | 74° | 39° | 1.3" | 52° – 61° |
| October | 60° | 30° | 1.0" | 36° – 51° |
| November | 45° | 20° | 0.5" | 25° – 41° |
| December | 35° | 12° | 0.5" | 16° – 29° |
| Year | 59° | 30° | 12.9" |
“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 Cardwell
Cardwell gets 13 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and January the driest.
About 139 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 9 and the first one by September 27. That leaves about 139 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 90% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Cardwell
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Cardwell, 96% of that work is heating and 4% 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 Cardwell 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 Cardwell averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.1°). The shift is larger than in 65% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Cardwell’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 16° to 36°. September is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Cardwell’s climate
What is the coldest month in Cardwell?
December, with a typical high of 35° and a low of 12°.
What is the hottest month in Cardwell?
July, with a typical high of 86° and a low of 49°. About 25 days a year reach 90°.
When is the first frost in Cardwell?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 27, and the last spring frost by May 9.
What is the rainiest month in Cardwell?
June, with 2.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 13 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Cardwell itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Trident, MT (24 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.