West Glacier, MT climate
West Glacier has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 115 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in West Glacier feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
West Glacier 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 | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31° | 18° | 3.2" | 32.0" | 18 | 31 | 16° – 32° |
| February | 35° | 18° | 2.0" | 16.0" | 15 | 29 | 13° – 34° |
| March | 44° | 24° | 2.2" | 14.0" | 15 | 30 | 25° – 39° |
| April | 53° | 30° | 2.1" | 3.1" | 14 | 14 | 36° – 49° |
| May | 64° | 38° | 2.5" | 0.5" | 14 | 1 | 46° – 56° |
| June | 70° | 44° | 3.6" | 0 | 15 | 0 | 54° – 64° |
| July | 80° | 49° | 1.4" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 56° – 72° |
| August | 80° | 47° | 1.1" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| September | 69° | 40° | 1.9" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 50° – 59° |
| October | 53° | 31° | 2.7" | 2.0" | 14 | 2 | 37° – 48° |
| November | 38° | 25° | 3.1" | 16.2" | 16 | 13 | 24° – 38° |
| December | 31° | 19° | 2.9" | 31.4" | 18 | 28 | 17° – 30° |
| Year | 54° | 32° | 28.7" | 115.2" | 162 | 147 |
“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 West Glacier
West Glacier gets 29 inches of rain and melted snow a year. June is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 162 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 147 days of the year.
About 124 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 18 and the first one by September 20. That leaves about 124 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 96% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in West Glacier
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In West Glacier, 98% of that work is heating and 2% 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 West Glacier 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 West Glacier averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+4.3°). The shift is larger than in 84% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at West Glacier’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 13° to 34°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about West Glacier’s climate
What is the coldest month in West Glacier?
January, with a typical high of 31° and a low of 18°.
What is the hottest month in West Glacier?
July, with a typical high of 80° and a low of 49°. About 7 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does West Glacier get?
About 115 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in West Glacier?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 20, and the last spring frost by May 18.
What is the rainiest month in West Glacier?
June, with 3.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 29 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for West Glacier itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at West Glacier, MT (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.