Helena, MT: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Helena
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 8:09 am and sets at 4:43 pm: 8h 34m of daylight, a dark winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 50m, so the swing is 7h 17m.
When it gets better in Helena
- Earliest sunset: 4:40 pm on Dec 10, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 8:12 am on Jan 1.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Feb 9.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 3.2 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 141 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 65. 65 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 46.6°N this is as far north as, or farther than, Nashua NH (43°N), where a 1990 survey found 9.7% of adults reported winter depression.
What to do about it in Helena
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 110 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 11 to Apr 2, so set it up before Sep 11.
- On daylight grounds there is a strong case for a light therapy lamp: 65 weekdays start and end in the dark. Use it in the morning, and if winter low mood is the reason, ask a doctor before you rely on one.
- If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Jan 29: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Helena, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 8h 34m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5:56 am | 9:12 pm | 15h 16m |
| August 2026 | 6:34 am | 8:27 pm | 13h 53m |
| September 2026 | 7:14 am | 7:27 pm | 12h 13m |
| October 2026 | 7:54 am | 6:30 pm | 10h 36m |
| November 2026 | 7:39 am | 4:49 pm | 9h 10m |
| December 2026 | 8:09 am | 4:43 pm | 8h 34m |
| January 2027 | 8:04 am | 5:16 pm | 9h 12m |
| February 2027 | 7:22 am | 6:02 pm | 10h 40m |
| March 2027 | 7:29 am | 7:42 pm | 12h 13m |
| April 2027 | 6:30 am | 8:24 pm | 13h 54m |
| May 2027 | 5:47 am | 9:03 pm | 15h 15m |
| June 2027 | 5:35 am | 9:25 pm | 15h 50m |
Helena against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Helena (8h 34m, sunset 4:43 pm):
- Butte-Silver Bow, MT, 57 mi away: 8h 39m of daylight (+5 min), sunset 4:48 pm (+5 min).
- Belgrade, MT, 69 mi away: 8h 40m of daylight (+6 min), sunset 4:43 pm (0 min).
- Great Falls, MT, 71 mi away: 8h 26m of daylight (-8 min), sunset 4:37 pm (-6 min).
- Bozeman, MT, 78 mi away: 8h 41m of daylight (+7 min), sunset 4:43 pm (0 min).
- Missoula, MT, 97 mi away: 8h 32m of daylight (-2 min), sunset 4:50 pm (+7 min).