Helena, MT Climate


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Helena, MT has a continental climate, with hot summers and cold winters. Average temperatures range from the low 90s in summer to the mid-20s in winter. Precipitation is moderate throughout the year, with around 17 inches falling annually. The area's climate can be unpredictable, as temperatures can swing widely during any season. During summer months, thunderstorms are common and can bring heavy rainfall and strong winds. Winters tend to be snowy and cold, with temperatures often dropping below zero for prolonged periods of time.

Helena, Montana gets 13 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year.

Helena averages 42 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year.

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

Helena gets some kind of precipitation, on average, 90 days per year. Precipitation is rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground. In order for precipitation to be counted you have to get at least .01 inches on the ground to measure.


Weather Highlights

Summer High: the July high is around 83 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 14
Rain: averages 13 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 42 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.

8.9 Summer - 4.5 Winter
July, August and June are the most pleasant months in Helena, while December and January are the least comfortable months.

  ClimateHelena, MontanaUnited States
  12.6 in.38.1 in.
  42.1 in.27.8 in.
  89.6 days106.2 days
  189 days205 days
  83.4°85.8°
  13.8°21.7°
  6.67
  3.94.3
  4045 ft.2443 ft.
Climate
YOU SHOULD KNOW

Many people confuse weather and climate but they are different. Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere is over long periods of time.

Weather is how the atmosphere is behaving and its effects upon life and human activities. Weather can change from minute-to-minute. Most people think of weather in terms of temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, brightness, visibility, wind, and atmospheric pressure.

Climate is the description of the long-term pattern of weather in a place. Climate can mean the average weather for a particular region and time period taken over 30 years. Climate is the average of weather over time.

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.
In Helena, there are 15.5 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in Montana.
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 Helena, there are 170.2 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is warmer than most places in Montana.
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.
Humidity is low in Helena, and some people might find the dryness to be uncomfortable. Days with noticeable humidity are rare throughout the year. A very dry climate can lead to cracked, itchy skin and dry eyes.
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.
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 42.1 inches in Helena means that it is about average compared to other places in Montana. March is the snowiest month in Helena with 7.4 inches of snow, and 9 months of the year have significant snowfall.
Reviews for Helena
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I spent 6 months living on a ranch in the Helena valley. This was during the population boom Montana experienced after covid. Helena has some great mountain biking  More

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Over 2 years ago

We transplanted from Southern California 3 years ago and have never looked back! Living in the small unincorporated town of York Montana located in the Helena nation  More

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Over 4 years ago

I lived here for 16 years. It is a great place to grow  More

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