Helena weather in February

In February, Helena sees average daytime highs of 31°F and overnight lows near 13°F, with 0.9 in of precipitation across 7 wet days and about 10 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 29°F in the first days to 32°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 23% of the time in February, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 18 min at the start of February to 10 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, February is Helena's 7th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Helena's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
10th warmest
Overnight low
13°
3rd coldest
Precipitation
0.9 in
7 wet days
Daylight
10 hours
7:42 AM – 5:43 PM
Cloud cover
64%
7th clearest
Wind
5 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
2.96 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Helena is capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and seat of Lewis and Clark County.

Density
749/km²
people per km²
Founded
1864

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in February

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 29°F in the first days to 32°F by the end.

A typical February day in Helena reaches about 31°F in the afternoon and slips back to 13°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 16°F and 43°F. Set against its neighbours, February runs about 3°F warmer than January and about 8°F cooler than March.

20°40°151015202528
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
12913
22913
32913
42913
52913
63013
73013
83013
93013
103013
113013
123013
133113
143114
153114
163114
173114
183114
193114
203114
213113
223114
233214
243214
253214
263214
273314
283314

How February really feels in Helena

Once humidity and wind are folded in, February averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 28 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
28
28 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

The story in February is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Helena weather by month

How February compares with the rest of the year at a glance. February is the 10th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 12°0.977.68.80.0
Feb31° / 13°0.977.6100.0
Mar39° / 20°1.49.77.711.60.1
Apr48° / 28°2.411.97.213.31.7
May59° / 37°3.213.82.714.84.0
Jun67° / 44°3.813.50.615.65.7
Jul78° / 50°1.78.8015.27.2
Aug78° / 49°1.57.50.1147.4
Sep67° / 42°1.66.80.912.46.7
Oct52° / 32°1.58.33.810.72.9
Nov37° / 21°1.27.76.29.20.1
Dec27° / 12°1.17.37.88.40.0

Cloud cover in February

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 23% of the time in February.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of February, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 61%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14060
24060
34060
44159
54159
64060
74060
84060
94159
104060
113961
123961
133961
143961
153961
164060
174060
184060
193961
203961
213961
223961
233961
243862
253862
263961
273961
283961

Chance of precipitation in February

Any precipitationSnow

Helena gets around 0.9 in of rain and snow over 7 wet days in February. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 25% and peaks near 28% on the wettest days, and about 8 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202528
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12123
22123
32224
42224
52324
62324
72325
82425
92425
102426
112526
122526
132527
142628
152628
162629
172629
182629
192730
202730
212730
222730
232730
242730
252730
262729
272829
282828

Humidity in February

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of February feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, February lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100

Wind in February

Winds average 5 mph in February.

Across February, daily wind ranges from about 5 mph on the calmest days to 6 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202528
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm

Sunrise & sunset in February

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 18 min at the start of February to 10 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 84 minutes over February. Sunrise moves from 8:01 AM to 7:21 AM, and sunset from 5:22 PM to 6:02 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202528
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.38:015:22
29.48:005:24
39.47:595:25
49.57:585:27
59.57:565:28
69.67:555:29
79.67:545:31
89.77:535:32
99.77:515:34
109.87:505:35
119.87:485:37
129.97:475:39
139.97:455:40
1410.07:445:42
1510.07:425:43
1610.17:415:45
1710.17:395:46
1810.27:385:48
1910.27:365:49
2010.37:355:51
2110.37:335:52
2210.47:315:54
2310.47:295:55
2410.57:285:56
2510.57:265:58
2610.67:245:59
2710.67:226:01
2810.77:216:02

Solar energy in February

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in February, about 2.96 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.55 kWh/m² to a high of 7.45 kWh/m² in July across the year — February's 2.96 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202528
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.4Moderate
22.4Moderate
32.4Moderate
42.5Moderate
52.5Moderate
62.6Moderate
72.6Moderate
82.6Moderate
92.7Moderate
102.7Moderate
112.8Moderate
122.8Moderate
132.9Moderate
142.9Moderate
153.0Moderate
163.0Moderate
173.1Moderate
183.1Moderate
193.2Moderate
203.2Moderate
213.3Moderate
223.3Moderate
233.4Moderate
243.4Moderate
253.5Moderate
263.5Moderate
273.6Moderate
283.6Moderate
Planning a trip in February

Hazard calendar for Helena

In seasonPeak

None of Helena's seasonal hazards are active in February. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Helena's rainy season runs April–June, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is February a good time to visit Helena?

Our two travel scores rate February for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

February is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Helena.

What to pack for Helena in February

From February's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In February, Helena sees daytime highs around 31°F and nights near 13°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 7 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Helena in February

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in February peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Helena peaks around July 15 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 15UV 9Dec 21UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan1Low
Feb2Low
Mar5Moderate
Apr5Moderate
May7High
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep5High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Low
Dec1Low

Air quality in Helena in February

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where February falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Helena is worst in August — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.1× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodAug 1225 µg/m³Dec 178 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb9Good
Mar11Good
Apr11Good
May11Good
Jun9Good
Jul23Moderate
Aug25Moderate
Sep17Moderate
Oct8Good
Nov9Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Helena?

Helena sits at 46.6°N, 112.0°W, 4,058 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Butte, 47 mi away.

Topography around Helena

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Helena.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Helena has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,588 ft around an average of 4,219 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,481 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 6,729 ft.

The land around Helena is covered by artificial surfaces (45%), trees (28%) and grassland (25%) within 2 miles, grassland (53%) and trees (31%) within 10 miles, and grassland (53%) and trees (42%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
1,588 ft
10 miles
3,481 ft
50 miles
6,729 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
February weather nearby: Butte 47 mi · Great Falls 71 mi · Bozeman 79 mi · Missoula 94 mi · Kalispell 153 mi · Whitefish 165 mi · Billings 178 mi · Rexburg 191 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Helena (46.5927°, -112.0361°, elevation 4,058 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).