Frost Dates for 59047 — Livingston, Montana

Half of springs at Livingston Mission Field, MT see their last 32°F night by May 27; only one in ten is past it by May 13, and one in ten still has one after June 14. Planting tender crops after June 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 7 20%, and after June 14 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 68% of the 68 Montana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 14 in half of years, as early as August 27 one year in ten, and holds off past September 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around September 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 30, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 108 days in a typical year, shorter than at 81% of the 68 Montana stations; it reaches 129 days one year in ten and falls short of 85 one year in ten. On average 162 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 20 days longer, to about June 16, and return around September 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between October 30 and April 5.

July is the warmest month at Livingston Mission Field, MT, averaging 86°F by day and 50°F at night; December is the coldest at 36°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). July is the only month with under a 10% chance of a 32°F night. In spring, June still brings one in 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,839 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 53% of the 68 Montana stations. 24% of them (440) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 556. Precipitation totals 14.6 inches a year, most in May (2.7") and least in January (0.4"); May to September bring 60% of it.

The nearest other station, Bozeman Montana State Univ, MT, 25 miles west of Livingston and 270 feet higher, has a last frost 1 day earlier (May 26), a first frost 8 days later (September 22), a season 8 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Livingston usually arrives around October 23, and the last of the season around April 30. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Livingston 12 S, MT, 12.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 27 days after the last snow.

ZIP 59047 is 5 miles from Livingston Mission Field, MT, which stands at 4,643 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 59047 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.