In the early morning of mid-June, Missoula is especially serene. The air feels like it belongs to a different season for a brief period of time, perhaps forty minutes, as the Clark Fork River absorbs whatever light filters over the Rattlesnake Wilderness before the valley floor warms. The thermometer then rises. Quick. In the afternoon, the city is baking silently under blue skies that almost seem artificial, with temperatures comfortably in the high seventies or low eighties.
The forecast for this week seems almost too optimistic. Highs are expected to reach 80 degrees on Thursday, 83 on Friday, and 88 on Wednesday of next week. For the majority of the ten-day period, the likelihood of precipitation is in the low single digits—1 or 2 percent on most days—which practically means nothing. The clouds that pass through are mostly ornamental. Since the forecast has been the same for days—sunny, dry, warm, repeat—it’s possible that locals have quietly stopped checking it.
It’s not just the temperature that makes this stretch feel noteworthy. It’s the regularity. Long, consistent warm spells in June are uncommon in Western Montana. Forecasters are kept honest by the way the mountains that surround Missoula, such as the Rattlesnake to the northeast and the Bitterroots visible on the western horizon, complicate weather systems. For a few days, a ridge may hold, but when a WNW wind picks up, everything changes. However, the ridge is holding right now. Mild winds, mostly from the west and northwest, can reach speeds of 7 to 14 miles per hour, depending on the day. This month, it seems like the atmosphere has just chosen to be cooperative.
The other half of the story is revealed by overnight lows. Nights consistently fall into the upper forties and low fifties, while afternoons reach the eighties. That difference, which can range from midnight to mid-afternoon by up to thirty degrees, is what makes Missoula so distinctive. It keeps the evenings just comfortable enough to sit outside without giving it much thought, and the mornings cool enough for a jacket. Residents who have lived there for a long time typically base their entire summer schedule on this rhythm. early runs. dinners on porches late at night. A ceiling fan is sufficient during this brief window.
Given that Missoula has historically experienced smoke intrusion from local wildfires in the late summer, the valley’s current air quality index of 38, which is considered “good,” is noteworthy. A haze that settles in the valley and lasts for days can occur in July and August. The visibility is currently ten miles. As the season goes on, that won’t always be the case, and many residents are quietly aware that June’s blue skies occasionally come with a warning. Forecasts for the Northwest’s late summer have already indicated above-average temperatures.
The meteorological cost of all this warmth and sunshine is currently high grass pollen levels. It’s important to know if you plan to spend time outside near the university or the river trail. The forecast also states that the average high for June 18 is approximately 74 degrees, while the historical high for Missoula is 98 degrees, which was set a few years ago. Today’s 80 is well above average without going into danger. It’s warm. noticeably warm. However, it’s not out of the ordinary enough to serve as a warning.
With long days that last past 9:30 p.m., low humidity, and enough wind to keep things from feeling stuffy, Missoula seems to be settling into the best version of its summertime self as the two-week forecast moves closer to the end of June. As usual, it’s unclear if that will continue into July. However, the valley is doing well right now.
