Dell has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain
A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 9°, and about 53 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Dell at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Dell’s climate
Read from where Dell sits among Montana’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
53 inches of snow, 10 of rain and melt
June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 67 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Living with Dell’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
89 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Jun 11 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 10.
About 53" a winter over 17 days with an inch or more, most in April.
Months averaging under 55° run from September through May. Heating is 98% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 5 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 81°.
The nicest months are June, July and August. 1.1 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →About 89 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by June 11 and the first by September 10.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
What a year in Dell feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Dell averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.4°).
A bigger shift than in 66% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Dell compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Montana.
Dell 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 | 29° | 9° | 0.2" | 6.0" | 4 | 12° – 25° |
| February | 32° | 10° | 0.2" | 5.1" | 4 | 14° – 30° |
| March | 42° | 19° | 0.4" | 6.8" | 5 | 25° – 38° |
| April | 51° | 26° | 1.0" | 10.1" | 7 | 33° – 44° |
| May | 61° | 34° | 1.6" | 4.7" | 9 | 40° – 53° |
| June | 70° | 40° | 1.9" | 1.1" | 9 | 50° – 62° |
| July | 81° | 46° | 1.0" | 0 | 7 | 53° – 71° |
| August | 80° | 44° | 0.9" | 0 | 6 | 55° – 66° |
| September | 69° | 37° | 0.9" | 0.6" | 5 | 50° – 58° |
| October | 54° | 28° | 0.8" | 6.7" | 5 | 32° – 48° |
| November | 39° | 17° | 0.3" | 5.8" | 3 | 18° – 37° |
| December | 29° | 8° | 0.3" | 5.7" | 4 | 13° – 23° |
| Year | 53° | 26° | 9.6" | 52.6" | 67 |
Heating and cooling a home in Dell
98% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. November swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 18° to 37°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Dell’s climate
What is the coldest month in Dell?
December, with a typical high of 29° and a low of 8°.
What is the hottest month in Dell?
July, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 46°. About 5 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Dell get?
About 53 inches in a normal winter, most of it in April.
When is the first frost in Dell?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 10, and the last spring frost by June 11.
What is the rainiest month in Dell?
June, with 1.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 10 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Dell.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Dell itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Lima, MT (8 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.