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Craig, Montana Weather

Monsoon storms drench the south. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Craig weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Craig, MT
Friday, July 3 at 10:19 PM
67
°
Clear
Feels like
63°
Humidity
40%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
11:38 PM
Sunset
3:26 PM
Craig, MT
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastCraig, MT: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 56 to 83 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 56°H 83°
Craig, MT
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 3
    Clear
    —
    —
    79°53°—
  2. Saturday
    Jul 4
    Overcast
    —
    —
    83°56°+4°
  3. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    91°60°+8°
  4. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Showers
    55%
    0.04″
    77°55°-14°
  5. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Showers
    55%
    —
    89°58°+12°
  6. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Overcast
    15%
    —
    95°62°+6°
  7. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Clear
    13%
    —
    87°57°-8°
Craig, MT
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°50°70°90°6p12a6a12pnow 68°high 83°low 56°
Craig, MT
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
W
273° · veering 19°
Direction
W
273°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
5
mph
Peak 24h
19
avg 8
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 8 · pk 19 @ 4:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 233SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Craig, MT
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
897.3
0.0 mb in 3h · steady · 26.50 inHg
Now
897.3
mb
3h
0.0
mb
12h
+0.3
mb
24h
+4.1
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 892–899
885890895900905-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW898.8891.8897.4
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Craig, MT
Air quality
42
AQI
Good
↑+7 in 6h

AQI 42 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI up 7 over the last 6 hours (gradual rise). Ozone at AQI 33 now. With UV 0.0 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 8 around 1 PM.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
2.7μg/m³
PM 10Good
4μg/m³
NO₂Good
4μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERModerate
69μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.0

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 33 now. With UV 0.0 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 8 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 33
UV peak
0.0 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 8

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Craig, MT
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
1%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
100.1mi
UNLIMITED
142 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
04:19 UTC · Craig, MT · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
04:19 UTC · Craig, MT · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Craig, MT
Satellite · infrared · animated
Craig, MT
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Craig, MT
Almanac · Friday, July 3
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
4:59 AM
Sunrise
11:38 PM
Daylight
15h 48m
Sunset
3:26 PM
Civil dusk
10:07 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Craig, MT
The moon
Waning Gibbous
84% illuminated
Moonrise
11:35 PM
Moonset
10:29 AM
In sign
♒︎ Aquarius
Craig, MT
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Monsoon storms drench the south

weather
Jan 150% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Craig at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 67°F — typical for the season
  • Last frost: May 28 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

16-Day Forecast — Craig

  1. Fri79°53°1%
  2. Sat83°56°2%
  3. Sun91°60°7%
  4. Mon77°55°55%
  5. Tue89°58°55%
  6. Wed95°62°15%
  7. Thu87°57°13%
  8. Fri92°59°7%
  9. Sat98°63°3%
  10. Sun105°68°6%
  11. Mon106°72°9%
  12. Tue107°73°9%
  13. Wed95°67°14%
  14. Thu82°54°16%
  15. Fri82°53°24%
  16. Sat92°58°26%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Craig

SPC includes Craig in the general thunderstorm area day after tomorrow — no severe risk, but storms are possible.

  • TODAYNONENo severe risk
  • TOMORROWNONENo severe risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms possible. Not severe, but capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rain.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: Deep freeze grips the high peaks.January 6–10: Ice thickens on alpine tarns.January 11–15: Springs stir beneath locked earth.January 16–20: Grouse call from the transition zone.January 21–25: First signals of the soil's turning.January 26–31: Stream water crystallizes thick.February 1–5: The year's coldest fortnight begins.February 6–10: East wind carries a subtle promise.February 11–15: Snowmelt springs whisper beneath ice.February 16–20: Red-wing calls rise from the wetlands.February 21–25: Rain begins to trace the snowline upward.February 26–28: Mist gathers in the warming canyons.March 1–5: Grass and trees stir from their sleep.March 6–10: Hibernators break through frozen ground.March 11–15: First blooms open to the spring sun.March 16–20: Mountain bluebirds return to the summits.March 21–25: Spring equinox at the divide.March 26–31: Aspen catkins burst in clusters.April 1–5: Thunderstorms rumble over granite peaks.April 6–10: Swallows and swifts slice the warming sky.April 11–15: Sandhill cranes call through the wetlands.April 16–20: Rainbows arch over the snowfields.April 21–25: New growth explodes across the montane.April 26–30: Last frost yields to summer growth.May 1–5: Wildflowers crest the high meadows.May 6–10: Summer monsoon clouds gather southward.May 11–15: Snowmelt crests toward the divide.May 16–20: High country wildflowers peak.May 21–25: Summer heat accelerates the growing season.May 26–31: Summer settles into the high country.June 1–5: Pikas hayfeeding in granite peaks.June 6–10: Glacier lily carpets the snowmelt.June 11–15: Paintbrush crowns the ridges.June 16–20: Thunderheads build by noon.June 21–25: Long light holds the peaks.June 26–30: Monsoon moisture drifts north.July 1–5: Monsoon storms drench the south.July 6–10: Wind builds through canyons.July 11–15: Lightning crowns every peak.July 16–20: Elk herds claim alpine meadows.July 21–25: Pika caches reach their peak.July 26–31: Monsoon pulses weaken northward.August 1–5: Summer heat breaks with monsoon.August 6–10: First frost creeps to peaks.August 11–15: Cool wind returns from north.August 16–20: Monsoon clouds gather over the peaks.August 21–25: The monsoon breaks into scattered showers.August 26–31: Summer insects thin as autumn wind rises.September 1–5: Elk descend from summer high meadows.September 6–10: Dew crystallizes on high grass at dawn.September 11–15: Hawks begin the long crossing southward.September 16–20: Equinox: darkness claims the high passes.September 21–25: Thunder retreats as the monsoon dies.September 26–30: First frost hardens the high valleys.October 1–5: October: the aspen stands reach their peak.October 6–10: Aspen gold slides downslope with the chill.October 11–15: Snow settles on the high passes.October 16–20: Elk bugling fades as rut nears its end.October 21–25: First hard frost grips the basin.October 26–31: Late rains settle into November patterns.November 1–5: Aspen canopy falls to earth.November 6–10: Granite bones emerge from cover.November 11–15: Earth begins to harden.November 16–20: Bare ranges hold silence.November 21–25: Snow returns to the peaks.November 26–30: North wind strips the landscape.December 1–5: Deep darkness settles over the ranges.December 6–10: Winter locks the high country.December 11–15: Elk withdraw to winter range.December 16–20: Ice thickens across frozen water.December 21–25: Winter solstice — the sun returns.December 26–31: The year closes in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Monsoon storms drench the south

Monsoon established in southern Mountain West (New Mexico, southern Utah, Arizona north); afternoon downpours and lightning common.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
April——
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radisheslettuce, peas, radishes
Junelettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
October—winter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in Craig tops out in July (~68°F) and dips lowest in January (~28°F), with June wettest at 2.9 inches and January driest at 0.3 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January28°0.3″1
February30°0.4″1
March37°0.6″2
April45°1.5″4
May53°2.6″6
June61°2.9″6
July68°1.0″3
August67°1.2″4
September59°1.3″3
October48°1.0″3
November37°0.5″2
December29°0.5″2

Regional context

Craig swings from 28°F in January to 68°F in July (40°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Craig runs about 13.8 inches on roughly 37 measurable days.

Craig's rain peaks in summer: June brings 2.9 inches over 6.0 thunderstorm-fed days, while January sees just 0.3 inches across 1.2 days under cooler, drier air. That puts Craig in a summer-convective cohort with places like Wolf Creek, MT, Hardy, MT and Cascade, MT.

Once Craig passes late-May, overnight freezes fade and kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips can be sown. Tomatoes and peppers do best set out two weeks later in Craig, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. The season ends by early-October in Craig, once hard frosts set back in. A creek-bottom lot in Craig can lag Craig's last frost 7-10 days behind a south slope.

Similar climates: Wolf Creek, MT, Hardy, MT, Cascade, MT, Milford Colony, MT, Canyon Creek, MT.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Craig?
Craig's last spring frost lands near mid-May, and in Craig the first fall frost follows around mid-October.
What is the rainy season in Craig?
Craig sees its heaviest rain in June (around 2.9 inches), part of roughly 14 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Craig?
On average July tops the year in Craig at about 68°F.
What is the coldest month in Craig?
The coldest stretch in Craig falls in January, around 28°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Craig?
In Craig, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-May; Craig's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Craig get?
Expect roughly 37 wet days a year in Craig.
What hardiness zone is Craig?
Because Craig bottoms near 28°F in January, that winter low sets Craig's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Craig?
Craig's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Craig?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Craig in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Craig?
Current conditions for Craig and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Craig forecast updated?
The Craig forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Craig?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Craig are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Craig?
The next few days in Craig's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a cold semi-arid zone, Craig, Montana swings from 28°F in the heart of winter to 68°F at midsummer — a 40°F arc.

Rain and snow bring Craig roughly 14 inches a year across approximately 37 measurable-precipitation days.

Craig sits at 47.1°N; that 40°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across Craig.

All cities in Montana →

Great Falls, MT weather →

ZIP codes in Craig

  • 59648

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.