Frost dates for Fairfield, MT
At Fairfield, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 13 and the median first fall frost is Sep 27, for a typical growing season of 135 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 1. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 4b.
- May 13Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 1Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 27First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 135 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 14 | May 31 | Jun 14 |
| 32°F | Apr 28 | May 13 | Jun 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | May 14 |
| 24°F | Apr 2 | Apr 18 | 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 | Sep 1 | Sep 15 | Sep 29 |
| 32°F | Sep 14 | Sep 27 | Oct 9 |
| 28°F | Sep 24 | Oct 7 | Oct 23 |
| 24°F | Oct 1 | Oct 17 | Nov 2 |
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 | 86 days | 108 days | 128 days |
| 32°F | 115 days | 135 days | 155 days |
| 28°F | 138 days | 160 days | 183 days |
| 24°F | 157 days | 181 days | 204 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59436 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 10 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 USC00242857, at 47.6150, -111.9861, elevation 1214 m (3,983 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 160.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Sun River 4 S (24 km)
- Choteau (28 km)
- Choteau 8ne (28 km)
- Augusta (34 km)
- Bynum 4 SSE (41 km)
- Great Falls Intl Airport (48 km)
- Great Falls WFO (48 km)
- Cascade 5 S (49 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.