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Will it freeze in Laurel in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 31°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST).
Tonight: forecast low 31°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 40°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Laurel
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 14, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Billings WFO. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | May 6 · May 19 · Jun 2 | Sep 9 · Sep 23 · Oct 5 | 125 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 23 · May 5 · May 21 | Sep 20 · Oct 3 · Oct 17 | 149 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 7 · Apr 23 · May 6 | Sep 29 · Oct 14 · Oct 27 | 172 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Billings WFO
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Laurel, MT come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Billings WFO (station USC00240801, elevation 3,185 ft), 11 mi from Laurel. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Laurel
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 14 mi | May 4 | Oct 7 |
| Powell, WY | 63 mi | May 19 | Sep 20 |
| Cody, WY | 81 mi | May 12 | Oct 1 |
| Livingston, MT | 86 mi | May 27 | Sep 14 |
| Lewistown, MT | 101 mi | May 23 | Sep 21 |
| Sheridan, WY | 107 mi | May 21 | Sep 23 |
| Bozeman, MT | 110 mi | May 26 | Sep 22 |
| Belgrade, MT | 116 mi | May 26 | Sep 16 |
| Miles City, MT | 150 mi | May 8 | Sep 30 |
| Great Falls, MT | 174 mi | May 6 | Oct 1 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Laurel?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Laurel is around May 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 21, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 23.
When is the first frost in Laurel?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 3. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 20 and a 90% chance by October 17.
Can it frost in Laurel after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 19.
What growing zone is Laurel?
Laurel is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −20 to −15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 59044. See growing zones in Montana.
More: all Montana frost dates · Montana growing zones · frost vs. freeze