Live · KBTM · reported 43 min ago
Barometric pressure in Butte, MT today
30.06inHg
1018.0 hPa (mb)
- 3-hour change
- −0.03 inHg · −1.0 hPa
- 24-hour range
- 30.06 – 30.26 inHg
- Station (absolute) pressure
- 24.52 inHg
- Barometer dial reads
- Change · slightly high
Last 7 days
7-day barometric pressure graph for Butte
Hourly sea-level pressure in Butte over the last seven days, from weather station KBTM.
| Day · inHg | High | Low | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading the last 7 days | |||
Altimeter setting from KBTM (METAR), one report per hour. “Change” is the first to the last report of that day; today is so far.
Butte at a glance
How elevation shapes the reading in Butte
Butte is about 5,538 ft (1,688 m) above sea level. That is high enough that the air pressure you actually stand in is well below the figure in the forecast: about 24.40 inHg (826 hPa) on a standard day, against 29.92 inHg at sea level.
The reading above is the altimeter setting from Butte/Mooney Arpt (KBTM), 5 km (3 mi) from the city center. It is the station’s measured pressure corrected to sea level, which is the number weather reports, apps and TV forecasts use, so you can compare Butte with any other city.
Butte elevation and what it means · Sea-level vs station pressure
| Elevation | 5,538 ft · 1,688 m |
|---|---|
| Weather station | Butte/Mooney Arpt (KBTM) |
| Station elevation | 5,512 ft · 1,680 m |
| Standard air pressure at this elevation | 24.40 inHg · 826 hPa |
| Air pressure vs sea level | 82% |
| Water boils at | 201.7 °F · 94.3 °C |
| Time zone | America/Denver |
Reading the barometer
Is the pressure in Butte high or low?
Today’s reading is slightly high. Weather pressure is quoted at sea level, so the same scale works for Butte and everywhere else.
- Very low Stormy < 29.50
- Low Clouds, rain 29.50–29.80
- Normal Changeable 29.80–30.20
- High Fair 30.20–30.50
- Very high Dry, clear > 30.50
Frequently asked questions
What is the barometric pressure in Butte today?
The live reading at the top of this page is the latest sea-level pressure reported by Butte/Mooney Arpt (KBTM), 5 km (3 mi) from the city center. It updates about every 10 minutes; the graph shows the last 24 hours.
What is normal barometric pressure in Butte?
Weather reports for Butte use sea-level pressure, so “normal” is the same as anywhere: about 29.92 inHg (1013 hPa), with most days between 29.60 and 30.30 inHg (1002–1026 hPa). Readings above 30.20 inHg are high pressure; below 29.80 inHg is low pressure.
Why does a barometer in Butte read lower than the forecast?
Butte sits at about 5,538 ft (1,688 m). At that height the air above weighs less, so an uncorrected sensor reads around 24.40 inHg (826 hPa) on a standard day. Forecasts correct that to sea level. Set a home barometer to the sea-level value on this page, or use the station pressure line for an uncorrected comparison.
Where can I see a 7-day barometric pressure graph for Butte?
The graph on this page shows the last 7 days of hourly sea-level pressure from KBTM, with each day's high and low in the table below it. Its sharpest fall usually marks a front or storm passing through.
Is the pressure in Butte rising or falling?
See the trend badge under the reading: it compares the latest report with the one three hours earlier. Falling pressure usually means clouds, wind or rain on the way; rising pressure means clearing and more settled weather.