Your nature year
Bozeman, Montanathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Bozeman?
The closest place we follow is Yellowstone, 90 miles away, for fall foliage, Sep 1–Oct 31 (local timing). Yellowstone (90 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, Apr 1–Jul 31 (local timing). Expect about 119 frost-free days in Bozeman: the last spring frost usually comes around May 26, the first fall one around Sep 22, going by NOAA's Bozeman Montana State Univ station 1.5 miles away. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Apr 15 and first bloom around May 22. We follow 3 places within 150 miles of Bozeman; the nearest lies 90 miles to the south.
Updated Sep 27. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Bozeman's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~May 26 to ~Sep 22
- First leaf ~Apr 15
- First bloom ~May 22
- Today
Near Bozeman right now
- Last spring frost usually around May 26 · first fall frost around Sep 22NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bozeman Montana State Univ (1.5 mi, 50% dates)~8 months
- Yellowstone · 90 mi · Local timing: Sep 1–Oct 31Fall foliage · in its window now
- Lemhi Pass · 135 mi · Local timing: Sep 21–Oct 31Fall foliage · in its window now
Bozeman's nature year
- Wildflowers · YellowstoneApr–Jul
- Spring green-upApr
- Last spring frostMay
- Fall foliage · YellowstoneNowSep–Oct
- First fall frostNowSep
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Yellowstone · 90 miLocal timing: Sep 1–Oct 31
- Lemhi Pass · 135 miLocal timing: Sep 21–Oct 31
Wildflowers
- Yellowstone · 90 miLocal timing: Apr 1–Jul 31~6 months
- Grand Teton · 135 miLocal timing: May 1–Sep 30
Snow in Bozeman
Snow usually becomes possible around Oct 17 (our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%). NOAA's normals at Bozeman Montana State Univ (1.5 mi away): 91 inches of snow in an average year, about 28.6 days with 1 inch or more.
NOAA's chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date (one value per week, September to May), averaged over 1991–2020. A typical year, not a forecast.
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
May 26
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Sep 22
About 119 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 15
First bloom around May 22
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Bozeman Montana State Univ (1.5 mi from Bozeman), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Bozeman?
On average around Sep 22, and the last spring frost around May 26: about 119 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Bozeman Montana State Univ, 1.5 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Bozeman?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 15 and first bloom around May 22, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Bozeman?
Yellowstone, 90 miles (local timing: Sep 1–Oct 31); Lemhi Pass, 135 miles (local timing: Sep 21–Oct 31). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Bozeman?
Yellowstone, 90 miles (local timing: Apr 1–Jul 31); Grand Teton, 135 miles (local timing: May 1–Sep 30). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Bozeman?
Snow usually becomes possible around Oct 17: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Bozeman Montana State Univ. An average year brings 91 inches (NOAA 1991–2020). A typical year, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)