Best time to visit Missoula
The best time to visit Missoula is May–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Missoula, Montana, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.9 °C / 34 °F | -7.7 °C / 18 °F | 45 mm / 1.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 1.9 °C / 35 °F | -7.4 °C / 19 °F | 52 mm / 2 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | -2.8 °C / 27 °F | 46 mm / 1.8 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 11.9 °C / 53 °F | 0 °C / 32 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 17.8 °C / 64 °F | 4.7 °C / 40 °F | 53 mm / 2.1 in | best month |
| June | 22.6 °C / 73 °F | 8.8 °C / 48 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | best month |
| July | 30 °C / 86 °F | 12.9 °C / 55 °F | 13 mm / 0.5 in | best month |
| August | 28.5 °C / 83 °F | 12 °C / 54 °F | 19 mm / 0.7 in | best month |
| September | 22.8 °C / 73 °F | 7.5 °C / 46 °F | 29 mm / 1.1 in | best month |
| October | 13.3 °C / 56 °F | 1.5 °C / 35 °F | 43 mm / 1.7 in | good month |
| November | 5.4 °C / 42 °F | -3 °C / 27 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 0.6 °C / 33 °F | -7.1 °C / 19 °F | 58 mm / 2.3 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- May–September
- Good
- October
Why these months
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.3 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, average daily high 17.8 °C / 64 °F, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, relative humidity 56%, wet days 10.9 days, average daily low 4.7 °C / 40 °F.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 9.7 days, relative humidity 53%, average daily low 8.8 °C / 48 °F.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 28.5 °C / 83 °F, precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, wet days 3.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 38%.
Against: average daily high 30 °C / 86 °F.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 26.6 °C / 80 °F, precipitation 19 mm / 0.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, wet days 3.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily high 28.5 °C / 83 °F, average daily low 12 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 39%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 22.8 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 29 mm / 1.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, wet days 5.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, relative humidity 47%, average daily low 7.5 °C / 46 °F.
October · good
In its favour: precipitation 43 mm / 1.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily high 13.3 °C / 56 °F, wet days 9.7 days, relative humidity 61%.
Against: feels like (high) 10 °C / 50 °F, average daily low 1.5 °C / 35 °F.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–June, September–October
- Good
- March, July–August
Why these months
March · good
In its favour: precipitation 46 mm / 1.8 in, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, average daily high 7.5 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, daylight per day 11.9 h, wet days 12.1 days, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: average daily low -2.8 °C / 27 °F, feels like (high) 3.8 °C / 39 °F.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 11.9 °C / 53 °F, precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, daylight per day 13.6 h, feels like (high) 8.5 °C / 47 °F, wet days 11.8 days, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, average daily low 0 °C / 32 °F.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.8 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, days with heavy rain 1.2 days, feels like (high) 15.3 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 4.7 °C / 40 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, daylight per day 15.1 h, wet days 10.9 days, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, feels like (high) 21 °C / 70 °F, average daily low 8.8 °C / 48 °F, wet days 9.7 days, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, daylight per day 15.8 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
July · good
In its favour: precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 3.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 15.4 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: average daily high 30 °C / 86 °F, feels like (high) 28.5 °C / 83 °F.
August · good
In its favour: precipitation 19 mm / 0.7 in, wet days 3.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 12 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, daylight per day 14.1 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: average daily high 28.5 °C / 83 °F, feels like (high) 26.6 °C / 80 °F.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.8 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 29 mm / 1.1 in, wet days 5.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, feels like (high) 20 °C / 68 °F, average daily low 7.5 °C / 46 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, daylight per day 12.5 h, wind (daily max) 10 km/h / 6 mph.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.3 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 43 mm / 1.7 in, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, wet days 9.7 days, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, feels like (high) 10 °C / 50 °F, average daily low 1.5 °C / 35 °F, daylight per day 10.9 h, wind (daily max) 10 km/h / 6 mph.
Skiing and snow
Wants cold and snowfall; sunshine barely matters.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: good
- AApril: good
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–February
- Good
- March–April
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: snowfall 29 cm / 11.3 in, average daily high 0.9 °C / 34 °F, days with snow 17.1 days, average daily low -7.7 °C / 18 °F, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph, daylight per day 9 h.
February · best
In its favour: snowfall 29 cm / 11.6 in, average daily high 1.9 °C / 35 °F, days with snow 18 days, average daily low -7.4 °C / 19 °F, wind (daily max) 10 km/h / 6 mph, daylight per day 10.3 h.
March · good
In its favour: days with snow 13.8 days, average daily low -2.8 °C / 27 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph, daylight per day 11.9 h.
Against: average daily high 7.5 °C / 46 °F, snowfall 17 cm / 6.6 in.
April · good
In its favour: days with snow 9.7 days, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, daylight per day 13.6 h, average daily low 0 °C / 32 °F.
Against: snowfall 11 cm / 4.3 in, average daily high 11.9 °C / 53 °F.
November · best
In its favour: days with snow 11.3 days, average daily low -3 °C / 27 °F, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 6 mph, daylight per day 9.4 h.
Against: snowfall 17 cm / 6.6 in, average daily high 5.4 °C / 42 °F.
December · best
In its favour: snowfall 33 cm / 13.1 in, average daily high 0.6 °C / 33 °F, days with snow 18.9 days, average daily low -7.1 °C / 19 °F, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph, daylight per day 8.6 h.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Montana Snowbowl, 15 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | -2.8 °C | -1.9 °C | 3.8 °C | 8.5 °C | 15.3 °C | 21 °C | 28.5 °C | 26.6 °C | 20 °C | 10 °C | 1.9 °C | -3.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.1 days | 0.9 days | 0.6 days | 0.9 days | 1.2 days | 1.4 days | 0.2 days | 0.2 days | 0.7 days | 0.7 days | 1.1 days | 0.9 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 12 am | 4 am | 12 am | 5 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 6 am | 6 am | 5 am | 9 am |
| Sunshine per day | 6.3 h | 7.4 h | 9.3 h | 11 h | 12.4 h | 13 h | 14.3 h | 12.8 h | 10.8 h | 8.5 h | 6.7 h | 5.6 h |
| Relative humidity | 72% | 71% | 63% | 58% | 56% | 53% | 38% | 39% | 47% | 61% | 67% | 70% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 5.7 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | 8.3 µg/m³ | 9.7 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | 8.7 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 5.2 µg/m³ | 6.6 µg/m³ | 4.9 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 9.2 µg/m³ | 9.3 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 15 µg/m³ | 14.5 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | 14.4 µg/m³ | 20.1 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | 11.4 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.