Helena Weather, When to Go and Climate Information

(Helena, Montana - MT, USA)

The climate experienced in Helena is described as being semi-arid, with a long winter season and a fairly hot summer, when sunny weather can result in highs in the region of 30°C / 86°F.

The winter months can feel bitterly cold, particularly when chilly winds are gusting through the capital. December and January tend to be the coldest months in the city of Helena, when daytime temperatures hover around freezing or below, dropping sharply when nighttime arrives.

On the coldest nights, visitors should wrap up warm and expect lows of up to -10°C / 14°F - or even lower. Therefore, if you are renting a car during your visit, frosty mornings and icy roads are commonplace, so be sure to leave enough time to defrost your car before your travels.

Seasonal Climate Variations / When to Go

During the winter weather in Helena, the climate can be quite changeable. Surprisingly mild weather comes along from time to time, thanks to the warming effect of the Chinook winds from the interior mountain ranges.

Frosty nights still occur in March and at times in April, although by this time, the spring climate is well and truly on the way. Springtime temperatures soon begin to climb and approach 20°C / 68°F, climbing much higher by the time that June is here. July and August are especially hot months, with temperatures hovering anywhere between 25°C / 77°F and 30°C / 86°F.

Rainfall is fairly minor, sparse and spread throughout the year, with May and June tending to experience the highest precipitation levels. Many visitors to Helena are surprised to learn that snow can fall anytime from August to May, although most snow falls from November to March (roughly 5 inches / 12.7 cm on average during each of these months).

Helena Weather and Climate Chart (Averages)

	Maximum	Minimum
January	0°C / 32°F	-11°C / 12°F
February	3°C / 37°F	-9°C / 16°F
March	9°C / 48°F	-4°C / 25°F
April	14°C / 57°F	0°C / 32°F
May	19°C / 66°F	5°C / 41°F
June	24°C / 75°F	9°C / 48°F
July	29°C / 84°F	12°C / 54°F
August	28°C / 82°F	11°C / 52°F
September	22°C / 72°F	6°C / 43°F
October	14°C / 57°F	0°C / 32°F
November	6°C / 43°F	-5°C / 23°F
December	-1°C / 30°F	-11°C / 12°F