The best times to visit Columbia Falls for ideal weather are

June 18th to September 2nd

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Columbia Falls Travel Info

Weather in Columbia Falls

Temperature

Average temperatures in Columbia Falls vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for most of the year with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 28th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Columbia Falls, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 86.8°F (30.4°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 48.7°F (9.3°C) at night.

Columbia Falls Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Columbia Falls Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Columbia Falls Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Columbia Falls Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Columbia Falls Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 32.6 24.2 16.5
Feb 36.7 27.8 20.3
Mar 47.6 35.7 26.3
Apr 56.7 42.7 30.7
May 67.2 52.1 37.9
Jun 73.8 58.9 44.4
Jul 85.7 67.6 48.7
Aug 84.4 65.2 46.9
Sep 74.4 55.5 39.7
Oct 57.3 43.1 31.6
Nov 42 32.6 24.7
Dec 31.6 24.5 17.1

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 0.3 -4.3 -8.6
Feb 2.6 -2.3 -6.5
Mar 8.7 2.1 -3.2
Apr 13.7 5.9 -0.7
May 19.6 11.2 3.3
Jun 23.2 14.9 6.9
Jul 29.8 19.8 9.3
Aug 29.1 18.4 8.3
Sep 23.6 13.1 4.3
Oct 14.1 6.2 -0.2
Nov 5.6 0.3 -4.1
Dec -0.2 -4.2 -8.3

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Columbia Falls are August, July, and then March. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early to mid September. For example, on the week of September 10th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late May to early June with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of May 28th.

When can you find snow in Columbia Falls? Weather stations report large amounts of snow likely to be deepest around March, especially close to early to mid March. The best time to ski (if at all) in Columbia Falls is often around around March 12th when fresh powder is deepest. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Columbia Falls.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Columbia Falls (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 15% 6.3 1.5
Feb 12% 5.2 0.9
Mar 10% 8.7 1.2
Apr 15% 1.6 1.2
May 16% 1.2 1.8
Jun 26% 0 3.1
Jul 9% 0 1
Aug 8% 0 0.8
Sep 11% 0 1.1
Oct 13% 1.2 1.2
Nov 16% 2.3 1.4
Dec 19% 5.2 1.7

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 15 16 3.8
Feb 12 13.2 2.3
Mar 10 22.1 3
Apr 15 4.1 3
May 16 3 4.6
Jun 26 0 7.9
Jul 9 0 2.5
Aug 8 0 2
Sep 11 0 2.8
Oct 13 3 3
Nov 16 5.8 3.6
Dec 19 13.2 4.3

 

Humidity and Wind

Columbia Falls has some very humid months, and slightly dry months in the opposite season. The least humid month is August (38.9% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (73%).

Wind in Columbia Falls is usually calm. The windiest month is April, followed by May and March. April’s average wind speed of around 6 knots (6.9 MPH or 11.1 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid April where average top sustained speeds reach 14.8 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Columbia Falls.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 3.4 Barely noticeable 9.2 Gentle breeze
Feb 4 Light breeze 10.1 Gentle breeze
Mar 5 Light breeze 12.3 Gentle breeze
Apr 6 Light breeze 14 Significant breeze
May 5.4 Light breeze 13.2 Gentle breeze
Jun 4.7 Light breeze 12.1 Significant breeze
Jul 4.3 Light breeze 12 Gentle breeze
Aug 4 Light breeze 11.9 Significant breeze
Sep 3.8 Barely noticeable 10.9 Gentle breeze
Oct 3.6 Barely noticeable 10.2 Gentle breeze
Nov 3.8 Barely noticeable 10 Gentle breeze
Dec 3.6 Barely noticeable 9.4 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 71.4%
Feb 67.2%
Mar 57.8%
Apr 46.8%
May 44.9%
Jun 49.9%
Jul 38.9%
Aug 38.9%
Sep 47.5%
Oct 61.3%
Nov 66.9%
Dec 73%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Columbia Falls?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Columbia Falls, MT, US is July, followed by June and August. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Columbia Falls in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is somewhat extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 46.8 in December means 46.8% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Columbia Falls Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 71.7°F (22.1°C) and 38.2°F (3.4°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 3 to 5 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see moderate precipitation with 3 to 8 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Columbia Falls, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 77.3°F (25.2°C) and 35.2°F (1.8°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 3 to 5 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Columbia Falls to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 40.2°F (4.6°C) and 30.1°F (-1.1°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 3 to 6 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Columbia Falls, MT, US