Frost dates for Columbus, MT
At Columbus, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 27 and the median first fall frost is Sep 14, for a typical growing season of 108 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 12. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 27Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 12Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 14First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 108 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 27 | Jun 12 | Jul 3 |
| 32°F | May 14 | May 27 | Jun 12 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | May 13 | May 27 |
| 24°F | Apr 19 | May 1 | May 14 |
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 18 | Sep 2 | Sep 15 |
| 32°F | Sep 1 | Sep 14 | Sep 28 |
| 28°F | Sep 11 | Sep 26 | Oct 9 |
| 24°F | Sep 23 | Oct 5 | Oct 20 |
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 | 57 days | 79 days | 99 days |
| 32°F | 87 days | 108 days | 128 days |
| 28°F | 115 days | 134 days | 153 days |
| 24°F | 136 days | 156 days | 176 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59019 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 3 km |
| 59069 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 26 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 USC00241938, at 45.6444, -109.2675, elevation 1098 m (3,602 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 183.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Joliet (28 km)
- Rapelje (36 km)
- Bridger 2 N (45 km)
- Gibson 2 NE (47 km)
- Nye #2 (48 km)
- Red Lodge (52 km)
- Billings WFO (55 km)
- Big Timber (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.