Frost dates / Montana / Missoula

Frost dates in Missoula, MT

The station on this page is MISSOULA 2 NE, MT US (USC00245735), 3.2 miles from the city point. Population in the Census 2024 estimate is 78,204.

Zone 5bUSDA average annual extreme minimum -15°F to -10°F, from ZIP 59801 (1.5 miles from the city point used on this page).

Median last 32°F is May 10. Median first 32°F is October 1. The 50% growing-season length is 143 days. The green band runs from the median last frost to the median first frost. Thin ticks mark the 10%, 50%, and 90% dates.

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Last 32°F in spring

NCEI’s probability is the chance the last spring minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or after the date.

Probability	Date	How to read it
90%	April 27	Earlier date. A last 32°F on or after this day is common.
50%	May 10	Median.
10%	May 28	Later date. A last 32°F on or after this day is uncommon.

First 32°F in fall

NCEI’s probability is the chance the first autumn minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or before the date.

Probability	Date	How to read it
10%	September 16	Earlier date. A first 32°F on or before this day is uncommon.
50%	October 1	Median.
90%	October 15	Later date. A first 32°F on or before this day is common.

32°F growing-season length

Days between the last spring 32°F and the first autumn 32°F. The figure is a length the season meets or exceeds at that probability, from NCEI, not a subtraction done on this site.

Probability the season is at least this long	Days
10%	161
50%	143
90%	120

28°F threshold

	10%	50%	90%
Last, on or after	May 11	April 28	April 12
First, on or before	September 28	October 12	October 25
Season at least	188 days	167 days	148 days

36°F threshold

	10%	50%	90%
Last, on or after	June 24	June 1	May 12
First, on or before	September 3	September 19	October 2
Season at least	132 days	109 days	83 days

Station MISSOULA 2 NE, MT US (USC00245735). Completeness flag R, 22 years used for the 32°F dates. NCEI’s annual probability of at least one day at or below 32°F is 100%. Freeze dates are conditional on that threshold occurring. Elevation 1042.4 m. The same probability language applies to the 28°F and 36°F rows when those dates passed the same quality checks.

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Missoula, MT

Zone 5bAverage annual extreme minimum -15°F to -10°F

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Montana. Nearest qualified station: MISSOULA 2 NE, MT US (USC00245735), 3.2 miles. Median last 32°F May 10. Median first 32°F October 1. The 50% growing-season length is 143 days.

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32°F probabilities at this station

	10%	50%	90%
Last 32°F on or after	May 28	May 10	April 27
First 32°F on or before	September 16	October 1	October 15

Column order matches the NCEI file: for the last freeze, 10% is the later date and 90% is the earlier date. How to read the probabilities.

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Planting calendar

Frost dates for Montana are above. Planting windows appear for states with a cited extension guide. The fall and seed tools use the numbers you enter and the station dates.

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