2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Ellensburg, WA vs Helena, MT

Highlights

On average, there are 189 sunny days per year in Helena. Ellensburg averages 204 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Helena, Montana gets 12.6 inches of rain, on average, per year. Ellensburg, Washington gets 9 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.

Helena averages 42.1 inches of snow per year. Ellensburg averages 21.3 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Weather Highlights

Helena, Montana
Summer High: the July high is around 83.4 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 13.8
Rain: averages 12.6 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 42.1 inches of snow a year

Ellensburg, Washington
Summer High: the July high is around 84.2 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 23.1
Rain: averages 9 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 21.3 inches of snow a year

BestPlaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Helena is 6.6 (10=best), which means it is about average compared to other places in Montana.

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Ellensburg is 7.2 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in Washington.

Today's Weather - Ellensburg, WA

56°F

Today's Weather - Helena, MT

48°F

Average Monthly High / Low (°F)

Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Ellensburg / Helena

July is the hottest month for Ellensburg with an average high temperature of 84.2°, which ranks it as warmer than most places in Washington. In Ellensburg, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Ellensburg are September, June and August.

July is the hottest month for Helena with an average high temperature of 83.4°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in Montana. In Helena, there are 4 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Helena are June, August and July.

December has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Ellensburg with an average of 21.6°. This is colder than most places in Washington.

December has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Helena with an average of 13.6°. This is about average compared to other places in Montana.

In Ellensburg, there are 23.5 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is hotter than most places in Washington.

In Helena, there are 15.5 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in Montana.

In Ellensburg, there are 139.8 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is colder than most places in Washington.

In Helena, there are 170.2 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is warmer than most places in Montana.

In Ellensburg, there are 2.3 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is colder than most places in Washington.

In Helena, there are 16.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is about average compared to other places in Montana.

December is the wettest month in Ellensburg with 1.5 inches of rain, and the driest month is August with 0.2 inches. The wettest season is Spring with 39% of yearly precipitation and 12% occurs in Autumn, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 9.0 inches in Ellensburg means that it is one of the driest places in Washington.


June is the wettest month in Helena with 2.1 inches of rain, and the driest month is January with 0.4 inches. The wettest season is Autumn with 37% of yearly precipitation and 10% occurs in Spring, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 12.6 inches in Helena means that it is drier than most places in Montana.

December is the rainiest month in Ellensburg with 10.4 days of rain, and July is the driest month with only 2.4 rainy days. There are 74.4 rainy days annually in Ellensburg, which is one of the least rainy places in Washington. The rainiest season is Spring when it rains 35% of the time and the driest is Autumn with only a 14% chance of a rainy day.

May is the rainiest month in Helena with 11.0 days of rain, and February is the driest month with only 5.5 rainy days. There are 89.6 rainy days annually in Helena, which is about average compared to other places in Montana. The rainiest season is Summer when it rains 29% of the time and the driest is Spring with only a 21% chance of a rainy day.

An annual snowfall of 21.3 inches in Ellensburg means that it is snowier than most places in Washington.

An annual snowfall of 42.1 inches in Helena means that it is about average compared to other places in Montana.

December is the snowiest month in Ellensburg with 7.9 inches of snow, and 5 months of the year have significant snowfall.

March is the snowiest month in Helena with 7.4 inches of snow, and 9 months of the year have significant snowfall.