Helena weather in November

In November, Helena sees average daytime highs of 37°F and overnight lows near 21°F, with 1.2 in of precipitation across 7.7 wet days and about 9.2 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 42°F in the first days to 31°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in November, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 48 min at the start of November to 8 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, November is Helena's 6th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Helena's year-round climate.

Daytime high
37°
9th warmest
Overnight low
21°
5th coldest
Precipitation
1.2 in
7.7 wet days
Daylight
9 h 06 min
7:39 AM – 4:48 PM
Cloud cover
62%
6th clearest
Wind
6 mph
1st windiest
Solar energy
2 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.1
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 November

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 42°F in the first days to 31°F by the end.

A typical November day in Helena reaches about 37°F in the afternoon and slips back to 21°F overnight — a 16°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°F and 49°F. Set against its neighbours, November runs about 15°F cooler than October and about 10°F warmer than December.

20°40°60°151015202530
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14326
24325
34225
44225
54124
64124
74024
84023
94023
103923
113923
123822
133822
143822
153721
163721
173621
183620
193520
203519
213519
223419
233418
243318
253317
263217
273217
283116
293116
303115

How November really feels in Helena

Once humidity and wind are folded in, November averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 30 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
30
17 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

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

Helena weather by month

How November compares with the rest of the year at a glance. November is the 9th-warmest and 9th-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 November

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in November.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of November, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 56%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14753
24753
34654
44654
54654
64555
74555
84555
94555
104555
114555
124555
134555
144555
154555
164456
174456
184456
194357
204357
214159
224159
234159
244060
254060
264060
274060
284060
294060
304060

Chance of precipitation in November

Any precipitationSnow

Helena gets around 1.2 in of rain and snow over 7.7 wet days in November. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 26% and peaks near 27% on the wettest days, and about 6 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202530
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
12718
22718
32719
42719
52719
62619
72619
82519
92519
102519
112519
122519
132519
142520
152520
162520
172520
182521
192521
202522
212622
222623
232623
242624
252624
262625
272625
282525
292525
302424

Humidity in November

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, November 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%151015202530
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
29100
30100

Wind in November

Winds average 6 mph in November, the windiest month of the year.

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

0246810151015202530
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm

Sunrise & sunset in November

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 48 min at the start of November to 8 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 66 minutes over November. Sunrise moves from 7:17 AM to 7:57 AM, and sunset from 5:06 PM to 4:38 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.87:175:06
29.87:195:05
39.77:205:03
49.77:225:02
59.67:235:00
69.67:254:59
79.57:264:58
89.57:284:57
99.47:294:55
109.47:314:54
119.37:324:53
129.37:344:52
139.37:354:51
149.27:364:50
159.27:384:49
169.17:394:48
179.17:414:47
189.17:424:46
199.07:434:45
209.07:454:44
219.07:464:43
228.97:474:42
238.97:494:42
248.87:504:41
258.87:514:40
268.87:534:40
278.87:544:39
288.77:554:39
298.77:564:38
308.77:574:38

Solar energy in November

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in November, about 2 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 — November's 2 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.5Moderate
22.4Moderate
32.4Moderate
42.4Moderate
52.3Moderate
62.3Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.2Moderate
102.1Moderate
112.1Moderate
122.1Moderate
132.1Moderate
142.0Moderate
152.0Moderate
162.0Dim
172.0Dim
181.9Dim
191.9Dim
201.9Dim
211.9Dim
221.8Dim
231.8Dim
241.8Dim
251.8Dim
261.7Dim
271.7Dim
281.7Dim
291.7Dim
301.7Dim
Planning a trip in November

Hazard calendar for Helena

In seasonPeak

None of Helena's seasonal hazards are active in November. 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 November a good time to visit Helena?

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

0.1
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

November is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Helena.

What to pack for Helena in November

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

In November, Helena sees daytime highs around 37°F and nights near 21°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 8 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

UV index in Helena in November

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in November 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 November

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where November 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
November 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).