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Will it freeze in Missoula in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 27°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST).
Tonight: forecast low 27°F. Hard freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.
6 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 27°F Hard freeze · Areas Of Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 32°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy then Areas Of Fog
- Mon, Nov 9 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly 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 Missoula
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 12, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Missoula 2 NE. 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 12 · Jun 1 · Jun 24 | Sep 3 · Sep 19 · Oct 2 | 109 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 27 · May 10 · May 28 | Sep 16 · Oct 1 · Oct 15 | 143 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 12 · Apr 28 · May 11 | Sep 28 · Oct 12 · Oct 25 | 167 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Missoula 2 NE
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 Missoula, MT come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Missoula 2 NE (station USC00245735, elevation 3,420 ft), 3.2 mi from Missoula. 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 Missoula
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton, MT | 43 mi | May 21 | Sep 22 |
| Polson, MT | 57 mi | May 10 | Oct 5 |
| Anaconda, MT | 68 mi | Jun 1 | Sep 14 |
| Kalispell, MT | 94 mi | May 31 | Sep 10 |
| Butte, MT | 94 mi | Jun 13 | Sep 5 |
| Helena, MT | 97 mi | May 9 | Sep 30 |
| Columbia Falls, MT | 104 mi | May 31 | Sep 10 |
| Whitefish, MT | 109 mi | May 16 | Sep 25 |
| Great Falls, MT | 135 mi | May 6 | Oct 1 |
| Moscow, ID | 141 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 2 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Missoula?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Missoula is around May 10. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 28, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 27.
When is the first frost in Missoula?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 1. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 16 and a 90% chance by October 15.
Can it frost in Missoula 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 June 1.
What growing zone is Missoula?
Missoula is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 59801. See growing zones in Montana.
More: all Montana frost dates · Montana growing zones · UV index today in Missoula · frost vs. freeze