Frost dates for Missoula Intl Airport, MT
At Missoula Intl Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 16 and the median first fall frost is Sep 26, for a typical growing season of 130 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 1. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- May 16Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 1Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 26First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 130 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 22 | Jun 7 | Jun 25 |
| 32°F | May 3 | May 16 | Jun 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 17 | May 2 | May 14 |
| 24°F | Mar 28 | Apr 15 | May 1 |
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 30 | Sep 14 | Sep 28 |
| 32°F | Sep 12 | Sep 26 | Oct 8 |
| 28°F | Sep 24 | Oct 6 | Oct 19 |
| 24°F | Oct 1 | Oct 18 | 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 | 72 days | 96 days | 118 days |
| 32°F | 107 days | 130 days | 149 days |
| 28°F | 137 days | 156 days | 176 days |
| 24°F | 162 days | 186 days | 211 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59804 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 14 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 USW00024153, at 46.9208, -114.0925, elevation 973 m (3,192 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 172.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Missoula 6 NW WFO (0 km)
- Missoula 2 NE (10 km)
- Alberton (31 km)
- Potomac (41 km)
- Saint Ignatius (44 km)
- Stevensville (45 km)
- Seeley Lake Ranger Station (54 km)
- Lindbergh Lake (61 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.