Weather & Climate in Helena Valley Northeast, MT

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

Helena Valley Northeast experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 46°F (8°C). Winters average 23°F in January while summers reach 71°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 11.4 inches (drier than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 37.2 inches of snow annually, a moderate snowfall amount. 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 3,665 feet.

Temperature

23°F Jan (-5°C) 71°F Jul (21°C)

Annual Average	45.5°F
	16% below US avg
January Average	23°F (-5°C)
July Average	71°F (21°C)
Sunny Days	273 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	3,665 ft (1,117 m)
Area	51.1 sq mi (132.4 km²)
Population Density	83/sq mi
Coordinates	46.7066°N, 111.9388°W
Timezone	America/Denver
County	Broadwater County County
Nearest Airport	Helena Regional (HLN) 7 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 11.4"

70% below US avg

Snowfall 37.2"

Wettest Month (May) 2.01"

Driest Month (Feb) 0.39"

Air Quality

AQI Median	26.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	17.7 / 100
Social Vulnerability	52.9 / 100
Community Resilience	19.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Earthquake	Relatively Low
Wildfire	Relatively Low
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	Relatively Moderate

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

437 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	52 km	12 km
Jul 6, 2017	15 km S of Lincoln, Montana	M5.0	57 km	15 km
May 8, 2007	8 km NNW of Alder, Montana	M4.4	147 km	14 km
Jul 6, 2017	14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana	M4.4	49 km	10 km
Jan 30, 2016	19 km E of Lincoln, Montana	M4.3	45 km	2 km
Oct 28, 1998	18 km S of Whitehall, Montana	M4.3	113 km	5 km
Aug 16, 2019	4 km NW of Manhattan, Montana	M4.2	101 km	2 km
Aug 6, 2019	3 km NW of Manhattan, Montana	M4.1	102 km	5 km
Jun 18, 2006	6 km S of Pony, Montana	M4.1	123 km	12 km
Apr 8, 2000	8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana	M4.1	57 km	5 km
Sep 3, 2016	16 km S of Whitehall, Montana	M4.0	110 km	8 km
Jul 17, 2017	12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana	M4.0	50 km	13 km
Jul 6, 2017	14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana	M4.0	52 km	9 km
Nov 6, 1997	4 km WSW of Springhill, Montana	M4.0	119 km	5 km
Jul 19, 2002	43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana	M4.0	116 km	25 km
Mar 6, 2009	18 km S of Whitehall, Montana	M4.0	113 km	12 km
Jul 14, 2019	11 km NNE of Manhattan, Montana	M4.0	99 km	6 km
Jun 28, 2000	21 km SE of Clinton, Montana	M4.0	122 km	10 km
Nov 10, 2000	14 km NE of Townsend, Montana	M4.0	56 km	2 km
Oct 19, 2017	12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana	M3.9	51 km	4 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

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

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Jun 30, 1975	EF2	62 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 2, 1966	EF2	92 km	0.8 mi	0
Jun 5, 2012	EF1	85 km	2.8 mi	0
Jul 5, 1988	EF1	83 km	0.2 mi	0
Jun 28, 1982	EF1	66 km	0.5 mi	0
Jul 3, 1978	EF1	77 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 3, 1978	EF1	77 km	1.0 mi	0
Jul 3, 1978	EF1	77 km	1.0 mi	0
Jun 1, 1977	EF1	89 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 2, 1964	EF1	99 km	27.0 mi	0
Jun 22, 1962	EF1	99 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 29, 1961	EF1	100 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 5, 2000	EF0	96 km	1.0 mi	0
Sep 15, 1997	EF0	96 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 27, 1997	EF0	16 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 15, 1996	EF0	71 km	2.0 mi	0
May 17, 1994	EF0	90 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 21, 1993	EF0	25 km	0.1 mi	0
Jun 11, 1993	EF0	12 km	0.1 mi	0
Jul 9, 1992	EF0	36 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	86 km
2000	TOSTON-MAUDLOW	80,383	77 km
2021	WOODS CREEK	55,836	54 km
2003	LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK)	36,987	67 km
1988	CANYON CREEK	35,865	32 km
2021	HARRIS MTN	31,792	49 km
2017	ALICE CREEK	29,971	62 km
1984	NORTH HILL	27,162	12 km
2000	CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (CAVE GULCH)	26,997	24 km
2021	HAYSTACK	26,118	65 km
2007	CONGER CREEK	22,936	98 km
2007	MERIWETHER	18,865	21 km
2017	PARK CREEK	17,915	71 km
2000	CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (BUCKSNORT)	14,843	22 km
1990	BEARTOOTH COMPLEX	13,462	31 km
2000	BOULDER COMPLEX (HIGH ORE ROAD)	9,625	48 km
2015	EUSTIS	8,469	83 km
2021	BALSINGER	8,317	86 km
2015	COTTONWOOD GULCH	8,100	96 km
2017	CHINN MA	7,029	90 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	23°F (-5°C)	0.6 in	Coldest
February	27°F (-3°C)	0.4 in	Driest
March	35°F (2°C)	0.6 in
April	44°F (7°C)	1.0 in
May	53°F (11°C)	2.0 in	Wettest
June	61°F (16°C)	1.9 in
July	71°F (21°C)	1.3 in	Warmest
August	67°F (19°C)	1.3 in
September	56°F (14°C)	1.2 in
October	46°F (8°C)	0.7 in
November	33°F (1°C)	0.5 in
December	24°F (-4°C)	0.5 in

Helena Valley Northeast has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 23°F in January to 71°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 12.1 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.0") and February the driest (0.4").

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