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Weather & Climate in Helena, MT

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Helena has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 40°F (5°C). Winters average 21°F in January while summers reach 64°F in July. The area gets 273 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 16.5 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 26 / among the cleanest air in the country. The city sits at an elevation of 3,993 feet.

Temperature

21°F Jan (-6°C) 64°F Jul (18°C)
Annual Average40.3°F
25% below US avg
January Average21°F (-6°C)
July Average64°F (18°C)
Sunny Days273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation3,993 ft (1,217 m)
Area16.4 sq mi (42.5 km²)
Population Density1,929/sq mi
Coordinates46.5955°N, 112.0187°W
TimezoneAmerica/Denver
CountyJefferson County County
Nearest AirportHelena Regional (HLN)
2 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 16.5"
57% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jun) 1.97"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.47"

Air Quality

AQI Median26.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskVery Low
Risk Score21.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability24.0 / 100
Community Resilience34.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Very Low
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Very Low
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Very Low
Drought Very Low
Cold Wave Relatively Low
Landslide Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

487 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M5.8.

Jul 6, 2017 11 km SE of Lincoln, Montana M5.8 53 km 12 km
Jul 26, 2005 16 km N of Dillon, Montana M5.6 144 km 13 km
Jul 6, 2017 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana M5.0 55 km 15 km
Jul 6, 2017 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana M4.4 50 km 10 km
May 8, 2007 8 km NNW of Alder, Montana M4.4 134 km 14 km
Jan 30, 2016 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana M4.3 50 km 2 km
Oct 28, 1998 18 km S of Whitehall, Montana M4.3 100 km 5 km
Aug 16, 2019 4 km NW of Manhattan, Montana M4.2 93 km 2 km
Aug 6, 2019 3 km NW of Manhattan, Montana M4.1 94 km 5 km
Jun 18, 2006 6 km S of Pony, Montana M4.1 111 km 12 km
Apr 8, 2000 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana M4.1 55 km 5 km
Sep 3, 2016 16 km S of Whitehall, Montana M4.0 97 km 8 km
Nov 10, 2000 14 km NE of Townsend, Montana M4.0 54 km 2 km
Jul 19, 2002 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana M4.0 121 km 25 km
Jul 17, 2017 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana M4.0 52 km 13 km
Mar 6, 2009 18 km S of Whitehall, Montana M4.0 100 km 12 km
Jul 27, 2005 18 km N of Dillon, Montana M4.0 142 km 5 km
Jan 18, 2006 18 km NNE of Dillon, Montana M4.0 143 km 9 km
Jul 6, 2017 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana M4.0 51 km 9 km
Jun 28, 2000 21 km SE of Clinton, Montana M4.0 116 km 10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

22 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Jun 30, 1975 EF2 75 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 5, 2012 EF1 89 km 2.8 mi 0
Jul 5, 1988 EF1 97 km 0.2 mi 0
Jun 28, 1982 EF1 54 km 0.5 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 91 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 91 km 1.0 mi 0
Jul 3, 1978 EF1 91 km 1.0 mi 0
Sep 15, 1997 EF0 83 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 2, 1997 EF0 96 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 2, 1997 EF0 96 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 27, 1997 EF0 2 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 15, 1996 EF0 71 km 2.0 mi 0
May 17, 1994 EF0 81 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 21, 1993 EF0 36 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 11, 1993 EF0 3 km 0.1 mi 0
Jul 9, 1992 EF0 37 km 0.1 mi 0
Jun 12, 1992 EF0 46 km 0.1 mi 0
Aug 11, 1988 EF0 93 km 2.0 mi 0
May 4, 1971 EF0 73 km 0.5 mi 0
May 17, 1962 EF0 72 km 0.1 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: CANYON CREEK (167,875 acres, 1988).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
1988 CANYON CREEK 167,875 91 km
2000 TOSTON-MAUDLOW 80,383 73 km
2021 WOODS CREEK 55,836 57 km
2003 LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK) 36,987 71 km
1988 CANYON CREEK 35,865 25 km
2021 HARRIS MTN 31,792 63 km
2017 ALICE CREEK 29,971 69 km
1984 NORTH HILL 27,162 25 km
2000 CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (CAVE GULCH) 26,997 33 km
2021 HAYSTACK 26,118 51 km
2007 MERIWETHER 18,865 34 km
2017 PARK CREEK 17,915 74 km
2000 CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (BUCKSNORT) 14,843 23 km
1990 BEARTOOTH COMPLEX 13,462 45 km
2000 BOULDER COMPLEX (HIGH ORE ROAD) 9,625 34 km
2015 EUSTIS 8,469 75 km
2021 BALSINGER 8,317 97 km
2015 COTTONWOOD GULCH 8,100 89 km
2017 CHINN MA 7,029 92 km
2009 INDIAN TRAIL 4,592 44 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 21°F (-6°C) 0.7 in Coldest
February 27°F (-3°C) 0.5 in Driest
March 34°F (1°C) 0.7 in
April 42°F (6°C) 0.9 in
May 51°F (10°C) 1.9 in
June 59°F (15°C) 2.0 in Wettest
July 64°F (18°C) 1.3 in
August 65°F (18°C) 1.4 in Warmest
September 55°F (13°C) 1.2 in
October 45°F (7°C) 0.7 in
November 32°F (-0°C) 0.6 in
December 23°F (-5°C) 0.6 in

Helena has a seasonal temperature swing of 44°F / from 21°F in January to 65°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 12.4 inches, with June being the wettest month (2.0") and February the driest (0.5").

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