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In Montana, Helena Valley Reservoir is a reservoir used for time on and around the water. The water surface spans about 518 acres, making it a modest body of water. The page brings together an hourly and 7-day forecast, wind and gust outlook, and activity scores for boating, paddling, and swimming. Nearby alternatives include Canyon Ferry Lake. Current weather, wind, and activity conditions for Helena Valley Reservoir are updated throughout the day.
Updated
Alerts are published by official agencies and shown verbatim. View the official alert source.
Winter Storm Watch issued October 8 at 11:48PM MDT until October 11 at 6:00PM MDT by NWS Great Falls MT
Overall Good (76/100) across 4 activities. Best right now: Fishing (85/100).
How the score is calculated →Best excellent fishing window, averaging 92/100 across these hours. Wind 7 mph from the southeast. Dawn hours (06:00 local). Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 51° | 50° | 49° | 48° | 47° | 47° | 45° | 46° | 46° | 51° | 59° | 66° | 72° | 76° | 80° | 81° | 82° | 80° | 77° | 72° | 63° | 59° | 56° | 54° |
| Wind (kts) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Direction | S | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | SE | S | SW | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | NE | W | W | W |
| Gusts (kts) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 27 | 25 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 13 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 12 AM MDT | 51°F | 5 mph SSE (158°) | 12 mph | 0% | 65% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 1 AM MDT | 50°F | 5 mph SE (135°) | 12 mph | 0% | 72% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 2 AM MDT | 49°F | 5 mph ESE (113°) | 12 mph | 0% | 76% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 3 AM MDT | 48°F | 5 mph ESE (113°) | 12 mph | 0% | 71% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 4 AM MDT | 47°F | 6 mph ESE (113°) | 12 mph | 0% | 59% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 5 AM MDT | 47°F | 7 mph ESE (113°) | 13 mph | 0% | 59% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 6 AM MDT | 45°F | 7 mph SE (135°) | 14 mph | 0% | 49% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 7 AM MDT | 46°F | 8 mph SE (135°) | 16 mph | 0% | 55% | Partly Sunny |
| Fri, 8 AM MDT | 46°F | 7 mph ESE (113°) | 15 mph | 0% | 43% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM MDT | 51°F | 8 mph ESE (113°) | 16 mph | 0% | 27% | Mostly Sunny |
| Fri, 10 AM MDT | 59°F | 8 mph SE (135°) | 18 mph | 0% | 11% | Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM MDT | 66°F | 10 mph S (180°) | 22 mph | 0% | 14% | Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM MDT | 72°F | 9 mph SW (225°) | 23 mph | 0% | 20% | Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM MDT | 76°F | 10 mph WSW (248°) | 27 mph | 0% | 17% | Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM MDT | 80°F | 15 mph W (270°) | 31 mph | 0% | 4% | Sunny |
| Fri, 3 PM MDT | 81°F | 18 mph W (270°) | 32 mph | 0% | 4% | Sunny |
| Fri, 4 PM MDT | 82°F | 20 mph W (270°) | 35 mph | 0% | 5% | Sunny |
| Fri, 5 PM MDT | 80°F | 17 mph W (270°) | 31 mph | 0% | 10% | Sunny |
| Fri, 6 PM MDT | 77°F | 14 mph W (270°) | 29 mph | 0% | 20% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 7 PM MDT | 72°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 23 mph | 0% | 37% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 8 PM MDT | 63°F | 8 mph NNE (23°) | 20 mph | 0% | 42% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 9 PM MDT | 59°F | 6 mph W (270°) | 16 mph | 0% | 49% | Partly Cloudy |
| Fri, 10 PM MDT | 56°F | 6 mph WSW (248°) | 14 mph | 0% | 83% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Fri, 11 PM MDT | 54°F | 7 mph W (270°) | 15 mph | 0% | 81% | Mostly Cloudy |
| Sat, 12 AM MDT | 52°F | 7 mph W (270°) | 12 mph | 1% | 85% | Mostly Cloudy |
Official National Weather Service hourly forecast. Showing 10 of 25 hours. Wind arrows point the way the wind is blowing; the compass point and degrees show where it comes from.
| Period | Overnight October 9, 2026 | Friday October 9, 2026 | Friday Night October 9, 2026 | Saturday October 10, 2026 | Saturday Night October 10, 2026 | Sunday October 11, 2026 | Sunday Night October 11, 2026 | Columbus Day October 12, 2026 | Monday Night October 12, 2026 | Tuesday October 13, 2026 | Tuesday Night October 13, 2026 | Wednesday October 14, 2026 | Wednesday Night October 14, 2026 | Thursday October 15, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 44° | 82° | 41° | 55° | 25° | 35° | 23° | 43° | 25° | 53° | 29° | 57° | 30° | 54° |
| Wind | SE 7 mph | SSW 7 to 20 mph | WNW 3 to 14 mph | NNW 3 to 18 mph | NNW 17 to 22 mph | NNW 12 to 16 mph | NW 8 to 13 mph | NW 1 to 5 mph | SW 2 mph | S 2 mph | SSW 2 to 6 mph | SW 6 mph | WNW 6 to 12 mph | NW 5 mph |
| Gusts | 13 mph | 35 mph | 29 mph | 31 mph | 39 mph | 27 mph | 23 mph | 9 mph | 8 mph | 9 mph | 10 mph | 18 mph | 23 mph | 10 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 2% | 82% | 100% | 100% | 85% | 47% | 12% | 7% | 7% | 18% | 51% | 36% |
| Forecast |
No active USGS or USACE telemetry gauge is currently mapped to Helena Valley Reservoir. Not available from a verified source for this lake.
Good for fishing (85/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the south-southeast. 0% chance of precipitation. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend, water temperature. Confidence is moderate (74%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Fair for boating (74/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the south-southeast. Gusts to 12 mph. Working against it: Active severe alert: Red Flag Warning. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility and conditions, verified water access. Confidence is moderate (84%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Fair for sailing (63/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts exceed sustained wind by 7 mph, making the breeze puffy. 0% chance of precipitation. Working against it: Active severe alert: Red Flag Warning. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Good for kayaking (75/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 5 mph from the south-southeast. Gusts to 12 mph. Working against it: Active severe alert: Red Flag Warning. Confidence is high (90%).
Water temperature is not available from a verified source for this lake. No swimming score is shown without it.
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Individual boat ramp GPS coordinates are maintained under the jurisdiction of MT Parks & Wildlife Authority. Public boaters should verify seasonal launch water levels, gate hours, and daily vehicle/vessel fees before traveling.
Renowned among outdoor enthusiasts in MT, Helena Valley Reservoir provides reliable access for boating, angling, and peaceful paddling. The surrounding natural areas feature public launches and seasonal campgrounds that enhance the visitor experience. Observe safe navigation speeds and always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is required for anglers age 12+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Mandatory Clean, Drain & Dry inspection. Out-of-area craft require on-site Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS Quagga/Zebra) inspection or decontamination before launch. USCG life jackets required for all.
Public shoreline and boating access managed by State & Local Authorities. Verify seasonal gate hours, launch fees, and parking rules before travel.
High-speed motorboating, pontoon cruising, wakeboarding, and water skiing across main channels. Target gamefish include Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Yellow Perch, Common Carp, Kokanee Salmon. Morning hours typically provide optimal glassy conditions for kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) touring.
Warm water temperatures, peak swimming, active watersports, and open full-service campgrounds. Highest weekly attendance; plan early arrivals on summer weekends.
Spring pre-spawn and fall feeding transitions create prime trophy angling conditions. Cooler air, lower boat traffic, and vibrant seasonal shoreline foliage.
Northern cold winter conditions with freezing air temperatures and potential surface ice formation. Ramps and water systems may be winterized. Confirm open status before visiting.
NWS API Web Service · License: U.S. Government work · Attribution: Data provided by the National Weather Service (api.weather.gov)
Updated
Scores are heuristics, not safety guarantees. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
All telemetry for Helena Valley Reservoir is synchronized directly from authorized federal and state monitoring networks (USGS, NWS, NOAA, and state environmental authorities). Observations are strictly instrumented readings — unmonitored sensors are transparently disclosed rather than synthetic estimates.
Last source audit: Oct 9, 12:41 AM MDT