Frost dates for Lima, MT
At Lima, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jun 11 and the median first fall frost is Sep 10, for a typical growing season of 89 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 30. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- Jun 11Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 30Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 10First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 89 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | May 24 | Jun 11 | Jun 30 |
| 28°F | May 4 | May 21 | Jun 13 |
| 24°F | Apr 21 | May 5 | May 23 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | Aug 27 | Sep 10 | Sep 24 |
| 28°F | Sep 7 | Sep 23 | Oct 7 |
| 24°F | Sep 18 | Oct 3 | Oct 19 |
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 | 37 days | 60 days | 83 days |
| 32°F | 66 days | 89 days | 112 days |
| 28°F | 95 days | 121 days | 144 days |
| 24°F | 125 days | 149 days | 172 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59724 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 17 km |
| 59739 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 31 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 USC00245030, at 44.6331, -112.5928, elevation 1914 m (6,279 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 226.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Lakeview (62 km)
- Dillon U Of Montana Western (64 km)
- Alder 17 S (64 km)
- Alder 19s (65 km)
- Dillon 18 WSW (67 km)
- Dillon Airport (69 km)
- Virginia City (89 km)
- Laurin 2ne (91 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.