Summary of climatic data by months for the 2023-2024 crop year (October thru September) and averages for the period 1949-2024 at the Eastern Agricultural Research Center, Sidney, Montana, irrigated and dryland site.

Month Oct 23 Nov 23 Dec 23 Jan 24 Feb 24 Mar 24 Apr 24 May 24 June 24 July 24 Aug 24 Sept 24  
Precipitation (inches)                         Total
Current Yr - Irrigated 2.68 0.00 0.19 0.13 0.21 0.13 0.33 3.27 1.84 0.49 0.49 0.59 10.35
Avg 1949-2023 0.94 0.47 0.43 0.38 0.35 0.52 1.11 2.22 2.67 2.01 1.44 1.34 13.88
Current Yr - Dryland 1.97 0.00 0.18 0.08 0.14 0.18 0.29 3.05 2.61 0.45 1.61 0.65 11.21
Temperature (F)                         Avg.
Avg. Max Temp 53.7 44.8 40.2 23.6 40.0 37.2 62.2 67.0 75.9 87.9 83.7 82.3 58.2
Avg. Min Temp 32.3 21.0 18.1 5.9 19.3 14.4 32.4 42.6 49.0 57.4 55.6 47.2 32.9
Current Yr Mean Temp 43.0 32.9 29.2 14.8 29.7 25.8 47.3 54.8 62.5 75.7 69.7 64.8 45.6
Avg 1949-2023 45.7 30.2 18.3 13.6 19.4 30.4 44.3 56.0 64.6 70.2 68.8 58.2 43.3

 

Last killing frost in spring *

2024: May 4, 2024 (28.931.5F)

Avg. 1949 to 2024: May 14

First killing frost in fall *

2024: October 4, 2024 (30.6F)

Avg. 1949 to 2024: September 22

Frost-free period

2024: 153

Avg. 1949 to 2024: 131

Growing degree days (base 50) **

May 1 - First killing frost: 2473.3

Avg. 1949 to 2024:  2259.7

Maximum summer temperature: July 24, 2024 (102.4F)

Minimum winter temperature: January 13, 2024 (-32.8F)

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

NOTE: Precipitation derived from: NDAWN for October 2023 through October 2024. Temperature: NDAWN