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Weather & Climate in Helena Valley Northwest, MT
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Helena Valley Northwest 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 3,957 feet.
Temperature
21°F Jan (-6°C)
64°F Jul (18°C)
| Annual Average | 40.3°F |
| 25% below US avg | |
| January Average | 21°F (-6°C) |
| July Average | 64°F (18°C) |
| Sunny Days | 273 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 3,957 ft (1,206 m) |
| Area | 16.4 sq mi (42.4 km²) |
| Population Density | 310/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 46.7295°N, 112.0581°W |
| Timezone | America/Denver |
| County | Jefferson County County |
| Nearest Airport | Helena Regional (HLN) 9 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 26.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 21.6 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 24.0 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 34.4 / 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
438 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 | 43 km | 12 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 15 km S of Lincoln, Montana | M5.0 | 47 km | 15 km |
| May 8, 2007 | 8 km NNW of Alder, Montana | M4.4 | 149 km | 14 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.4 | 40 km | 10 km |
| Jan 30, 2016 | 19 km E of Lincoln, Montana | M4.3 | 37 km | 2 km |
| Oct 28, 1998 | 18 km S of Whitehall, Montana | M4.3 | 114 km | 5 km |
| Aug 16, 2019 | 4 km NW of Manhattan, Montana | M4.2 | 108 km | 2 km |
| Apr 8, 2000 | 8 km ENE of Townsend, Montana | M4.1 | 66 km | 5 km |
| Aug 6, 2019 | 3 km NW of Manhattan, Montana | M4.1 | 109 km | 5 km |
| Jun 18, 2006 | 6 km S of Pony, Montana | M4.1 | 126 km | 12 km |
| Sep 3, 2016 | 16 km S of Whitehall, Montana | M4.0 | 112 km | 8 km |
| Jun 28, 2000 | 21 km SE of Clinton, Montana | M4.0 | 113 km | 10 km |
| Nov 10, 2000 | 14 km NE of Townsend, Montana | M4.0 | 64 km | 2 km |
| Mar 6, 2009 | 18 km S of Whitehall, Montana | M4.0 | 114 km | 12 km |
| Jul 19, 2002 | 43 km NE of Seeley Lake, Montana | M4.0 | 108 km | 25 km |
| Nov 6, 1997 | 4 km WSW of Springhill, Montana | M4.0 | 126 km | 5 km |
| Jul 6, 2017 | 14 km SSE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 42 km | 9 km |
| Jul 14, 2019 | 11 km NNE of Manhattan, Montana | M4.0 | 106 km | 6 km |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 12 km ESE of Lincoln, Montana | M4.0 | 41 km | 13 km |
| Oct 19, 2017 | 12 km SE of Lincoln, Montana | M3.9 | 41 km | 4 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990-2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Tornado History
24 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Jun 30, 1975 | EF2 | 68 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 2, 1966 | EF2 | 88 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2012 | EF1 | 94 km | 2.8 mi | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1988 | EF1 | 85 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1982 | EF1 | 59 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1978 | EF1 | 79 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1978 | EF1 | 79 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jul 3, 1978 | EF1 | 79 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 1, 1977 | EF1 | 88 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 2, 1964 | EF1 | 97 km | 27.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1962 | EF1 | 98 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Sep 15, 1997 | EF0 | 92 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 27, 1997 | EF0 | 17 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 15, 1996 | EF0 | 80 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| May 17, 1994 | EF0 | 96 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1993 | EF0 | 21 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 11, 1993 | EF0 | 16 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jul 9, 1992 | EF0 | 27 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1992 | EF0 | 59 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Aug 11, 1988 | EF0 | 94 km | 2.0 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 | 77 km |
| 2000 | TOSTON-MAUDLOW | 80,383 | 85 km |
| 2021 | WOODS CREEK | 55,836 | 64 km |
| 2003 | LINCOLN COMPLEX (SNOWBANK) | 36,987 | 58 km |
| 1988 | CANYON CREEK | 35,865 | 38 km |
| 2021 | HARRIS MTN | 31,792 | 52 km |
| 2017 | ALICE CREEK | 29,971 | 54 km |
| 2012 | ELBOW PASS COMPLEX | 28,989 | 96 km |
| 1984 | NORTH HILL | 27,162 | 15 km |
| 2000 | CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (CAVE GULCH) | 26,997 | 34 km |
| 2021 | HAYSTACK | 26,118 | 65 km |
| 2007 | CONGER CREEK | 22,936 | 89 km |
| 2007 | MERIWETHER | 18,865 | 24 km |
| 2017 | PARK CREEK | 17,915 | 62 km |
| 2000 | CANYON FERRY COMPLEX (BUCKSNORT) | 14,843 | 31 km |
| 1990 | BEARTOOTH COMPLEX | 13,462 | 33 km |
| 2000 | BOULDER COMPLEX (HIGH ORE ROAD) | 9,625 | 48 km |
| 2015 | EUSTIS | 8,469 | 89 km |
| 2021 | BALSINGER | 8,317 | 94 km |
| 2017 | CHINN MA | 7,029 | 100 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 | 35°F (1°C) | 0.7 in | |
| April | 43°F (6°C) | 1.0 in | |
| May | 52°F (11°C) | 2.1 in | Wettest |
| June | 61°F (16°C) | 1.9 in | |
| July | 64°F (18°C) | 1.3 in | |
| August | 66°F (19°C) | 1.4 in | Warmest |
| September | 56°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 Valley Northwest has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 21°F in January to 66°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 12.6 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.1") and February the driest (0.5").