Climate Comfort Score
49/100
Moderate
NOAA 1991–2020 normals 45°F annual avg 3 stations
Missoula, MT Climate
Explore average temperature, rainfall, and comfort score sourced from NOAA NCEI's 1991–2020 climate normals →
- 45°F
- Avg annual temp
- 49/100
- Comfort score
- 14.1"
- Annual precip
- 133d
- Growing season
30-year climate normals from 3 weather stations (1991-2020).
The climate verdict for Missoula
Missoula, Montana averages 45°F a year and scores 49/100 on the comfort index - moderate, milder than 18% of U.S. cities.
- 45°F
- average temperature, NOAA 1991-2020 normal
- 49/100
- comfort score, milder than 18% of U.S. cities
- 14.1"
- annual precipitation · 43" snow
- 133 days
- frost-free growing season
Based on NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020) - 30-year averages describing the typical year, not a forecast.
Avg Temperature
45°F (7°C)
Avg High
57°F
Avg Low
34°F
Annual Precip
14.1"
Annual Snow
43.0"
Comfort Score
49/100
Moderate
Avg Annual Temperature
45°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
14.1"
Plus 43.0" of snow
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Missoula) 49.0%
National median (63)
PlainClimate composite, temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Moderate for the Missoula area.
How Missoula compares to every U.S. city
Missoula's comfort score vs. all U.S. cities
PlainClimate composite comfort index (1–100), NOAA 1991–2020 normals
49 Top 82% higher than 18% of 6,915 US cities
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, PlainClimate comfort index · 1991–2020
Warming context for Missoula
MethodologyThe chart below traces how the U.S. land temperature anomaly has moved against the global mean since 1900. For Missoula, the NOAA 1991-2020 normal captures average conditions across that spread - notably, the most recent decade runs warmer than the 30-year mean itself.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32°F (0°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.0" | 9.9" | 29.8 | 0.0 |
| February | 37°F (3°C) | 21°F (-6°C) | 29°F (-2°C) | 0.9" | 8.5" | 26.1 | 0.0 |
| March | 48°F (9°C) | 27°F (-3°C) | 37°F (3°C) | 0.9" | 5.0" | 25.0 | 0.0 |
| April | 56°F (13°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 1.4" | 1.3" | 15.2 | 0.0 |
| May | 66°F (19°C) | 40°F (4°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 1.8" | 0.3" | 4.4 | 0.2 |
| June | 73°F (23°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 60°F (15°C) | 2.1" | 0.0" | 0.2 | 2.1 |
| July | 85°F (30°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 68°F (20°C) | 0.8" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 12.2 |
| August | 84°F (29°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 67°F (20°C) | 0.8" | 0.0" | 0.1 | 10.7 |
| September | 73°F (23°C) | 42°F (6°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 1.0" | 0.1" | 1.7 | 1.4 |
| October | 56°F (13°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 1.2" | 0.9" | 14.9 | 0.0 |
| November | 40°F (4°C) | 25°F (-4°C) | 32°F (0°C) | 1.2" | 5.4" | 25.5 | 0.0 |
| December | 31°F (-1°C) | 18°F (-8°C) | 24°F (-4°C) | 1.1" | 11.6" | 29.7 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 1.0"
Snow: 9.9"
12.5 days with precipitation
February 0.9"
Snow: 8.5"
10.8 days with precipitation
March 0.9"
Snow: 5.0"
11.4 days with precipitation
April 1.4"
Snow: 1.3"
11.4 days with precipitation
May 1.8"
Snow: 0.3"
12.1 days with precipitation
June 2.1"
12.5 days with precipitation
July 0.8"
6.0 days with precipitation
August 0.8"
6.4 days with precipitation
September 1.0"
Snow: 0.1"
7.3 days with precipitation
October 1.2"
Snow: 0.9"
9.9 days with precipitation
November 1.2"
Snow: 5.4"
11.1 days with precipitation
December 1.1"
Snow: 11.6"
12.6 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
September 26
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
May 16
50% probability date
Growing Season
133 days
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
7,514
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
306
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
July
Coldest Month
December
Humidity & Wind
Monthly averages from hourly observations
| Month | Humidity | Wind (mph) | Clear Sky % | Overcast % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 79% | 3.8 | 29% | 52% |
| February | 70% | 5.3 | 31% | 45% |
| March | 62% | 5.9 | 31% | 41% |
| April | 56% | 6.6 | 40% | 32% |
| May | 59% | 6.2 | 43% | 29% |
| June | 51% | 6.0 | 64% | 13% |
| July | 42% | 5.9 | 77% | 6% |
| August | 48% | 5.2 | 67% | 12% |
| September | 58% | 4.7 | 60% | 21% |
| October | 73% | 4.0 | 41% | 40% |
| November | 79% | 3.9 | 28% | 55% |
| December | 81% | 3.7 | 21% | 60% |
What Missoula's climate means for you
Missoula runs 45°F a year - peaking in July, coldest in December.
- Gardeners get about 133 frost-free days, with the last spring freeze near May 16 - plan the planting calendar around it, not the regional average.
- Energy bills track 7,514 heating and 306 cooling degree days a year, higher means the furnace or AC runs more.
- Comparing places to live? Line this city up against nearby cities and the national rankings. See rankings
These are 30-year NOAA normals (1991–2020) - the typical year, not a forecast for any specific season.
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Missoula, MT
Based on 3 weather stations feeding NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, Missoula, Montana averages 45°F a year, ranging from a mean daily high of 57°F to a mean daily low of 34°F. July is typically the warmest month of the year, while December is the coldest. Because these figures are thirty-year averages rather than any single year's readings, they describe the typical month, not a forecast for it.
Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Missoula receives roughly 14.1 inches of precipitation each year, with 43.0 inches typically falling as snow. The frost-free season averages 133 days, which directly shapes the planting calendar and growing potential for the area, with the last spring freeze near May 16 and the first fall freeze near September 26. For energy use, 7,514 heating degree days and 306 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Missoula scores 49/100 (Moderate), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. The monthly tables above are the practical planning tool: mild highs and lows land in the shoulder seasons, July-driven heat peaks in summer, and December-driven cold sets in over deep winter. These are thirty-year averages, not a forecast - any single year can run warmer, wetter, drier, or cooler than the normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Missoula, MT? ▼
The average annual temperature in Missoula, Montana is 45°F. The warmest month averages 85°F (30°C) and the coldest averages 18°F (-8°C).
How much rain does Missoula get? ▼
Missoula receives 14.1 inches of precipitation annually, including 43.0 inches of snow. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Missoula? ▼
Missoula has a climate comfort score of 49/100 (Moderate), milder than 18% of U.S. cities in the PlainClimate database.
When is the growing season in Missoula? ▼
Missoula has approximately 133 frost-free days per year, with the last spring freeze around May 16 and the first fall freeze around September 26.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Missoula? ▼
Missoula has 7,514 heating degree days and 306 cooling degree days annually, a heating-dominated climate. See our <a href="/guides/reading-weather-data/" class="underline hover:text-brand-600">guide to reading weather data</a> for what these figures mean.
Where does this Missoula climate data come from? ▼
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020), from 3 weather stations near Missoula.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USW00024153. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
Every figure on PlainClimate is rendered directly from NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on NOAA 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.