Today | Weather | Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Active Weather Warnings

Weather in Helena, Montana

05:15 AM
Now
Cloudy Night
59° F
Feels Like 61°
Precipitation 0 %
Wind 4 mph
Humidity 42 %
Today
Cloudy Weather
Day 79°
Night 57°
Precipitation 15 %
Wind 11 mph
UV Index (0 - 11+) 7

Helena Weather Forecast Updated

27 minutes ago
Last updated on

Air Quality in Helena

NOW
86 AQI
Moderate air quality Dominant pollutant: PM2.5

Pollutant Concentrations:

PM2.5 28.67 µg/m³
PM10 28.82 µg/m³
O3 0.029 ppm
NO2 1.4 ppb
SO2 0 ppb
CO 0.11 ppm
NH3 5.32 µg/m³
NO 0 µg/m³
PM2.5 – Fine particles <2.5μm
PM10 – Inhalable particles <10μm
O3 – Ozone
NO2 – Nitrogen dioxide
SO2 – Sulfur dioxide
CO – Carbon monoxide
NH3 – Ammonia
NO – Nitric oxide

Health Recommendations:

Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

Show raw pollutant concentrations (µg/m³)
PM2.528.67 µg/m³
PM1028.82 µg/m³
O357.68 µg/m³
NO22.71 µg/m³
SO20.03 µg/m³
CO130.1 µg/m³
NH35.32 µg/m³
NO0 µg/m³

Weather Alerts and Warnings for Helena

Severe Future Possible

Flash Flood Watch

Flash Flood Watch issued August 12 at 3:50AM MDT until August 13 at 4:00AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Aug 12, 4:00 PM Aug 13, 4:00 AM
WHAT: Flash flooding and debris flows caused by excessive rainfall
are possible over the Horse Gulch burn scar.

WHERE: A portion of central Montana, including the following
areas, Horse Gulch burn scar, including Riverside Campground.

WHEN: From this afternoon through late tonight.

IMPACTS: Heavy rainfall over the Horse Gulch burn scar is expected
up to and during the period of the watch. Residents near the Horse
Gulch burn scar should prepare for potential debris flow. Be sure
to stay up to date with information from local authorities. Heavy
rainfall could trigger flash flooding of low-lying areas, urbanized
street flooding, and debris flows in and near recent wildfire burn
scars.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
- National Weather Service Meteorologists are forecasting heavy
rainfall over the Horse Gulch burn scar, which may lead to flash
flooding and debris flows. Additional heavy rainfall is possible
Thursday and Friday, and additional flood statements might be
needed for those days as well.
- Some locations that may experience flash flooding include...
Horse Gulch burn scar and Riverside Campground.
- For flood safety, go to this web page.
http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood
+ Read More
You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.
Updated: Aug 12, 4:47 AM Source: NWS Alert

Air Quality Alert

Air Quality Alert issued August 11 at 8:15AM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Aug 11, 8:15 AM Aug 12, 9:00 AM
AQAMT

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air
quality alert for Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Granite, Madison,
Park, Flathead, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Mineral,
Missoula, Powell, Ravalli, and Silver Bow counties in effect until
9AM on 08/12/2026
An Air Quality Alert means that particulates have been trending
upwards and that an exceedance of the 24 hour National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS) has occurred or may occur in the near
future.

Elevated particulate levels from wildfire smoke

As of 8AM on 08/11/2026, particulate levels in Missoula are
Unhealthy.

As of 8AM on 08/11/2026, particulate levels in Dillon, Frenchtown,
Great Falls and Hamilton are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

As of 8AM on 08/11/2026, particulate levels in Billings, Butte,
Choteau, Columbia Falls, Cut Bank, Helena, Lewistown, Libby, Malta,
Thompson Falls and West Yellowstone are Moderate.

When air quality is Unhealthy... State and local health officials
recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly,
and children should avoid prolonged exertion; everyone else should
limit prolonged exertion.

When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups... State and local
health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart
disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion.

When air quality is Moderate... State and local health officials
recommend that unusually sensitive people should consider reducing
prolonged or heavy exertion.

For more information visit the Montana Department of Environmental
Quality at http://todaysair.mtdeq.us
Updated: Aug 12, 4:47 AM Source: NWS Alert