Summary of climatic data by months for the 2022-2023 crop year (October thru September) and averages for the period 1949-2023 at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center, Sidney, Montana, irrigated and dryland site.

Month Oct 22 Nov 22 Dec 22 Jan 23 Feb 23 Mar 23 Apr 23 May 23 June 23 July 23 Aug 23 Sept 23  
Precipitation (inches)                         Total
Current Yr - Irrigated 1.16 0.58 0.18 0.02 0.01 0.07 0.31 3.47 1.38 1.20 2.77 1.12 13.39
Avg 1949-2023 0.91 0.48 0.43 0.39 0.35 0.52 1.12 2.21 2.68 2.03 1.45 1.35 13.92
Current Yr - Dryland 1.78 0.49 1.39 0.16 0.04 0.14 0.34 3.33 1.69 1.21 2.19 1.45 14.21
Temperature (F)                         Avg.
Avg. Max Temp 58.9 30.9 16.1 27.2 32.3 27.8 51.7 74.2 81.1 82.9 84.0 77.0 53.7
Avg. Min Temp 36.2 13.0 -1.1 9.7 10.9 8.7 29.0 46.5 55.4 55.0 56.0 47.9 30.6
Current Yr Mean Temp 47.6 22.0 7.5 18.5 21.6 18.3 40.4 60.4 68.2 69.0 70.0 62.5 42.1
Avg 1949-2023 45.8 30.2 18.1 13.6 19.2 30.5 44.2 56.0 64.7 70.2 68.8 58.2 43.3

 

Last killing frost in spring *

2023: May 2, 2023 (28.9F)

Avg. 1949 to 2023: May 14

First killing frost in fall *

2023: October 6, 2023 (31.5F)

Avg. 1949 to 2023: September 22

Frost-free period

2023: 157

Avg. 1949 to 2023: 130

Growing degree days (base 50) **

May 1 - First killing frost: 2600.3

Avg. 1949 to 2023:  2256.8

Maximum summer temperature: July 24, 2023 (101.5F)

Minimum winter temperature: February 24, 2023 (-27.5F)

* 32 is considered a killing frost. ** In calculating growing degree days, 29 is considered a killing frost.

NOTE: Precipitation derived from: NDAWN for October 2022 through October 2023 & National Weather Service for December 2022. Temperature: NDAWN