Butte (MT) Monthly Rainfall & Precipitation

This page shows both the average monthly rainfall and the number of rainy days in Butte, Montana, United States of America. The numbers reflect climate data gathered over a 30-year period, from 1990 to 2020. Let's explore the details to provide you with a complete overview.

Butte tends toward drier weather patterns, receiving approximately 384 mm (15 in) of rain/snow per year. The city experiences a distinct dry season during certain months, contributing to seasonal contrasts shown in the charts below.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm (0.01 in))

The seasons in Butte, bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, June, receives moderate rainfall, with an average of 62 mm (2.4 in) of precipitation. This rainfall is distributed across 14 rainy days.

June, the wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 20°C (68°F). During the driest month January you can expect a temperature of 0°C (32°F). For more detailed insights into the city's temperatures, visit our Butte Temperature page.

Butte's average annual precipitation is 384 mm (15 in). Let's compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

Boston, USA, experiences 1238 mm (49 in) of annual precipitation, including significant snowfall during the winter.

Beijing, China, receives 560 mm (22 in) of annual precipitation, concentrated in the summer months.

In Brisbane, Australia, the annual precipitation is 979 mm (39 in), making it wetter than Sydney.

Mumbai, India, experiences a tropical monsoon climate with 1860 mm (73 in) of annual rainfall, with the majority of precipitation happening during the monsoon season from June to September.

Precipitation amounts are measured using specific gauges installed at weather stations, collecting both rain and snow and any other type of precipitation. Rainfall is measured directly in millimeters, while that from snow and ice is obtained by melting it. Automated systems often incorporate heaters to make this easier.

Information from these stations is transmitted via Wi-Fi, satellite, GPS, or telephone connections to central monitoring networks. This information is immediately updated and integrated into weather models and forecasts.

Climate change is affecting precipitation patterns worldwide, including Butte (MT):

• Changing Rainfall Patterns: Global warming causes drastic changes in the patterns of rainfall. Some areas have been experiencing increased frequency and intensity of rainfall, while other areas experience longer dry spells or even droughts.
• Local Impacts: Many regions are experiencing heavier rainfall in the winter months and drier, hotter summers. This affects agriculture, water resources, and ecosystems.

• Mawsynram in India is noted as being the wettest place on earth, with over 11 meters (36 feet) of rain falling every year.
• In contrast, Antofagasta in Chile is among the driest places on the planet, getting less than 0.1mm (0.004 inches) per year, with some years recording virtually no rainfall.
• Nearly 1,650 thunderstorm cells are estimated over the planet at any given time.

For more detailed information about Butte (MT)'s weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our Butte (MT) Climate page.