Missoula, nestled in western Montana’s valley, features a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and moderately snowy, while summers are hot, dry, and sunny with cool nights. The city’s dramatic temperature swings, moderate precipitation, and abundant sunshine make it a year-round destination for outdoor adventure, festivals, and scenic mountain escapes.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Missoula’s climate is shaped by its position west of the Rockies, resulting in milder winters than much of Montana and pronounced seasonal contrasts. Winters (November–March) are cold and moderately snowy, with average highs of –1 to 4°C and lows dipping to –9°C or lower in January. Snowfall averages 100 cm (39.5 inches) annually, typically from late October to mid-April, and the city experiences about 120 days with snow on the ground. Arctic air occasionally brings severe cold snaps, but most winters are less harsh than elsewhere in the state. Sunshine is limited in winter, with only about 30% of possible sun, and the region can experience winter inversions with persistent cloud cover.
Spring (April–May) is cool and damp, with highs rising from 10°C in March to 19°C in May. May and June are the wettest months, each averaging nearly 2 inches (about 50 mm) of rain, often as daily showers. Summer (June–August) is hot, dry, and very sunny, with average highs of 28–29°C in July and August and cool nights around 10–14°C. The diurnal temperature range is large – often over 17°C – thanks to low humidity. Rain is scarce in summer, and forest fire smoke can occasionally affect air quality. Autumn (September–October) is crisp and clear, with highs dropping from 22°C in September to 14°C in October and cool nights. Annual precipitation is low, averaging 14 inches (356 mm), and winds are generally light to moderate, with brisk gusts possible during storms or mountain weather changes.
| Average climate data for Missoula, United States | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | -1 | -1 | 4 | 9 | 16 | 20 | 27 | 27 | 20 | 11 | 3 | -2 | 27 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -8 | -9 | -5 | -3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | -0 | -5 | -9 | -9 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 5 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 83 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 5 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 68 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 33 | 61 | 22 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 26 | 206 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 44 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 90 | 87 | 85 | 76 | 67 | 64 | 50 | 52 | 58 | 70 | 83 | 89 | 73 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 52 | 54 | 50 | 44 | 36 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 24 | 33 | 41 | 50 | 37 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
The best time to visit Missoula is from late June to early September, when days are hot, dry, and sunny, nights are cool, and outdoor activities abound. This period is ideal for hiking, river sports, and festivals, with long daylight hours and minimal rainfall.
The least favourable time to visit is in late winter (January–March), when cold, cloudy weather, snow, and occasional severe cold snaps can limit outdoor activities. Spring can also be unpredictable, with frequent rain and lingering snow, but offers fewer crowds and early wildflowers.
Missoula has a humid continental climate with cold, moderately snowy winters and hot, dry summers. Spring and autumn are short and crisp, with dramatic temperature swings and low annual precipitation.
Late June to early September is best, with hot, sunny days, cool nights, and minimal rain. This is ideal for hiking, river trips, and outdoor festivals.
Missoula averages about 100 cm (39.5 inches) of snow annually, with snow typically on the ground from late October to mid-April. Snowfall is moderate compared to other parts of Montana.
Summer highs average 28–29°C in July and August, with occasional spikes above 32°C. Nights are cool, dropping to 10–14°C, and humidity is low, making the heat comfortable.
Annual precipitation is low, averaging 14 inches (356 mm). May and June are the wettest months, each with about 50 mm of rain. Summers are very dry, with little rainfall.
Pack layers for large day-night temperature swings, sun protection for summer, and a rain jacket in spring. In winter, bring warm, waterproof clothing and boots for snowy conditions.
Yes, but summer and early autumn are best for hiking and river sports. Winter is good for snow sports, but cold snaps and limited sunshine can affect comfort. Spring is variable but offers early wildflowers and fewer crowds.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (26.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is December (-2.1 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 11.1 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (8.2 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is December (-9.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is -1 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is April (12 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is December (4 mm). Over the whole year there are 82.8 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is April (8.9 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is August (3.2 days). Over the whole year there are 67.5 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (60.6 mm). The months with the least snowfall are June, July and August (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 206 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is December (9 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is July (0 days). Over the whole year there are 44.3 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (90.5 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (50.3 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 72.7 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is April (8 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (6.4 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 7.2 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is February (54.3 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (13.5 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 36.9 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.9 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 11.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 4.2 h). Over the whole year there are 7.8 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 6). The months with the lowest average UV index are February and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 2.8.
