Frost dates for Big Timber, MT
At Big Timber, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 14 and the median first fall frost is Sep 26, for a typical growing season of 133 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 14Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 26First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 133 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 16 | May 28 | Jun 12 |
| 32°F | May 2 | May 14 | May 27 |
| 28°F | Apr 18 | May 2 | May 16 |
| 24°F | Apr 1 | Apr 19 | May 4 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Aug 28 | Sep 13 | Sep 28 |
| 32°F | Sep 10 | Sep 26 | Oct 8 |
| 28°F | Sep 22 | Oct 5 | Oct 21 |
| 24°F | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Nov 1 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 85 days | 106 days | 127 days |
| 32°F | 114 days | 133 days | 150 days |
| 28°F | 136 days | 156 days | 176 days |
| 24°F | 158 days | 181 days | 203 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59011 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 10 km |
| 59033 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 21 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00240780, at 45.8325, -109.9511, elevation 1250 m (4,100 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 153.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Melville 4 W (31 km)
- Livingston Mission Field (41 km)
- Gibson 2 NE (42 km)
- Nye #2 (46 km)
- Wilsall 8 ENE (48 km)
- Rapelje (56 km)
- Columbus (57 km)
- Wilsall 1s (57 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.