Helena, OK climate
Helena has chilly winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 95°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 13 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Helena feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Helena weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47° | 24° | 1.0" | 3.1" | 4 | 4 | 30° – 45° |
| February | 52° | 28° | 1.3" | 2.4" | 5 | 3 | 32° – 47° |
| March | 61° | 37° | 2.2" | 3.2" | 6 | 2 | 43° – 58° |
| April | 71° | 45° | 3.1" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 51° – 64° |
| May | 80° | 55° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 62° – 76° |
| June | 90° | 65° | 4.5" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 72° – 84° |
| July | 95° | 70° | 3.2" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 77° – 90° |
| August | 93° | 69° | 3.6" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 74° – 87° |
| September | 85° | 60° | 2.4" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 68° – 80° |
| October | 73° | 48° | 3.0" | 0.2" | 6 | 0 | 53° – 65° |
| November | 59° | 36° | 1.6" | 0.4" | 5 | 1 | 41° – 54° |
| December | 48° | 27° | 1.4" | 3.4" | 5 | 4 | 29° – 41° |
| Year | 71° | 47° | 31.6" | 12.7" | 76 | 12 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Helena
Helena gets 32 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 76 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 12 days of the year.
About 205 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 9 and the first one by October 31. That leaves about 205 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 75% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Helena
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Helena, 68% of that work is heating and 32% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Helena compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Helena averaged 0.9° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.3°). The shift is smaller than in 80% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Helena’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. March swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 43° to 58°. June is the most reliable, staying within 11°.
Common questions about Helena’s climate
What is the coldest month in Helena?
January, with a typical high of 47° and a low of 24°.
What is the hottest month in Helena?
July, with a typical high of 95° and a low of 70°. About 81 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Helena get?
About 13 inches in a normal winter, most of it in December.
When is the first frost in Helena?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 31, and the last spring frost by April 9.
What is the rainiest month in Helena?
May, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 32 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Helena itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Helena 1 Sse, OK (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.