The climate of Miles City
Miles City, located in
Montana, USA, demonstrates a mid-latitude steppe climate, per the Köppen climate classification of BSk. This classification signifies that Miles City experiences a semi-arid climate, with distinct seasons, mild to chilly winters, and warm to hot summers.
The year in Miles City brings great variations in weather elements, from fluctuating temperatures to shifting humidity levels and precipitation patterns. Temperatures can go as low as 15.1°F (-9.4°C) in
January and as high as 86.7°F (30.4°C) in
July, exemplifying the wide range. Humidity also varies, with January and
December experiencing the highest relative humidity at around 83% and 78%, while July registers the lowest at 41%.
Rainfall is more considerable during the spring than in the drier seasons of summer and winter, reaching a peak of 1.1" (28mm) in
May. In contrast, there is hardly any rainfall from
November to
February with only 0.28" (7mm) recorded. However, these months do see the most snowfall, with January and December reaching up to 1.97" (50mm) and 1.5" (38mm), respectively.
Wind speeds can reach up to 18.5mph (29.8km/h) in January, making it the windiest month of the year, while the quietest month, in terms of wind, is
August, with gust speeds averaging around 13.7mph (22km/h). On the other hand, the sunniest period falls between July and August, where sunshine hours average about 11.8 hours, opposed to the winter months witnessing only five hours of sunshine.
Interestingly, despite the arid classification, Miles City sees a considerable number of snowy days, reaching up to 10.1 days in January. Meanwhile, it experiences the highest number of rainy days in May totaling 11.3 days.
The best time to visit Miles City
Planning visits to
Miles City could depend on individual preferences for weather conditions. However, the prime months that stand out for favorable weather align from
June to
September. During this period, temperatures are comfortably warm, with highs from 74.3°F (23.5°C) to 86.7°F (30.4°C) and lows from 56.3°F (13.5°C) to 65.8°F (18.8°C). These months also feature an increased number of sunshine hours ranging from around 10.5 hours to around 11.8 hours. Relative humidity during this period is recorded as being the lowest of the year, making the air less heavy and more comfortable for outdoor activities.
The worst time to visit Miles City
Miles City experiences its harshest conditions during winter, specifically from
December to
February. These months record the lowest temperatures of the year, plummeting to as low as 15.1°F (-9.4°C) in
January with highs barely reaching 29.7°F (-1.3°C) in February. The days yield minimal sunshine, averaging 5.1 hours in December and January. Snow is frequent during these months, with the city seeing up to 10.1 snowy days in January.
Spring weather in Miles City
Miles City enters spring in
March with a modest rise in temperature, moving from 44.2°F (6.8°C) to 66.6°F (19.2°C) by
May. During this period, the city sees an increase in rainfall, peaking to 1.1" (28mm) in May, with a corresponding rise in the number of rainy days, reaching 11.3 days in the same month. Wind conditions also intensify, with March showing an average speed of 9.7mph (15.6km/h), which spikes to 11.2mph (18km/h) in
April.
Summer weather in Miles City
June greets the arrival of summer in
Miles City, with thermometers ranging from 77.5°F (25.3°C) to 86.7°F (30.4°C) throughout the season. There is a significant decrease in rainfall from 0.87" (22mm) in June to 0.63" (16mm) in
August. These months also boast the maximum daylight hours, peaking at 15.8 hours in June, accompanied by ample sunshine hours from 10 hours to 11.8 hours, providing perfect conditions for outdoor adventures.
Autumn weather in Miles City
Autumn, spanning from
September to
November, ushers in cooler temperatures, descending from 74.3°F (23.5°C) in September to 42.3°F (5.7°C) by November. However, the sunshine hours gradually reduce from 10.5 hours to 6.1 hours during the same period. With precipitation also dropping from 0.51" (13mm) to 0.28" (7mm), autumn in
Miles City bears witness to reasonably dry conditions despite the bite in the air.
Winter weather in Miles City
Winter in
Miles City settles in
December with plummeting temperatures, registering lows from 16.3°F (-8.7°C) to 15.1°F (-9.4°C), and highs hardly rising past 28.9°F (-1.7°C) in December. It also sees scarce sunshine, around 5.1 hours during the months of December and
January. Moreover, snowfall surges, peaking at 1.97" (50mm) in January, while relative humidity levels skyrocket to 83% in the same month, adding to the frosty atmosphere.
Weather in January
The weather in
Miles City,
Montana in
January is characterized by some of the coldest temperatures of the year, with low temperatures averaging 15.1°F (-9.4°C), and high temperatures averaging 28.8°F (-1.8°C). January is the month with the highest average relative humidity, which combined with the cold temperatures can make the air feel chillier than it is.
Weather in January »Weather in February
While cold weather persists in
Miles City,
Montana in
February, the month is slightly milder than
January. The city continues to see snowfall, though it is not as frequent as in the previous month. An increase in the number of daylight hours is starting to be noticeable during February.
Weather in February »Weather in March
March in
Miles City,
Montana sees a departure from the harsh winter, with average high temperatures rising to 44.2°F (6.8°C). The frequency of snowfall drops drastically from the winter months, making way for more rainfall. As spring pushes winter out of the way, the number of daylight hours continues to mount significantly.
Weather in March »
Weather in April
April witnesses a significant shift in the weather at
Miles City,
Montana with the city fully embracing the spring season. The temperatures, both maximum and minimum, are noticeably higher than the past months. Moreover, with an average rainfall of 0.91" (23mm), this month has the traits of a typical spring month: moderately warm with occasional showers.
Weather in April » Weather in May
May in
Miles City,
Montana, spells the definitive beginning of warmer weather, with temperatures continuing to rise. The hallmark of this month is arguably the considerable decrease in cloud coverage when compared to the earlier months, resulting in more sunshine.
Weather in May » Weather in June
June brings summertime to
Miles City,
Montana, marked by some of the hottest temperatures of the year. While the temperatures rise, the relative humidity sees a gradual decrease, offering relatively dry heat. The month also records an average of 11.3 sunshine hours per day, making it one of the sunniest months of the year.
Weather in June »
Weather in July
July, the hottest month in
Miles City,
Montana, sees the average high temperature touch 86.7°F (30.4°C). Even though the surrounding temperatures are high, it is a relatively dry month, considering the decrease in relative humidity and rainfall.
Weather in July » Weather in August
While
Miles City,
Montana remains quite warm during
August, the average high temperature decreases slightly from the peaks experienced in
July. The decrease in daylight hours becomes more noticeable, as the month progresses towards autumn.
Weather in August »Weather in September
September brings the onset of autumn to
Miles City,
Montana, translating into a clear drop in temperatures from the hot summer months. With an average high temperature of 74.3°F (23.5°C), the difference from the summer heat is quite noticeable.
Weather in September »
Weather in October
Weather in November
The weather in
Miles City,
Montana undergoes a clear transition towards winter in
November. Chills become more apparent, with the average high temperature dropping to 42.3°F (5.7°C), a significant decrease from
October. November also sees a return of snowfall after the long snow-free period since
April.
Weather in November »Weather in December
December marks the arrival of full-fledged winter in
Miles City,
Montana. The month is distinguished by cold temperatures, comparable to those in
January. Along with the dip in the mercury, this month also holds the record for the shortest daylight hours of the year.
Weather in December »