Dearborn River High Bridge · Photo: Jet Lowe · Public domainLess rain and snow falls on Milford Colony than on 93% of U.S. towns: 16 inches a year
In January the night’s low is typically 17°. In July, afternoons here are cooler than in 86% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.4°, most of all in January. The heating season runs October to April: each of those months averages under 50°.
A year in Milford Colony at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Milford Colony’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Milford Colony’s place in Montana beside it.
What a year in Milford Colony feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 115 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 21 and the first by September 15. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Rogers Pass 9 Nne, MT, 10 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Milford Colony’s center in zone 4b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −25°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 67 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Cascade 5 S, MT, falls mostly in January, February, April, November and December. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 16 inches a year; June is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 80 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Milford Colony
97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Rogers Pass 9 Nne, MT.
Living with Milford Colony’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
115 frost-free days in zone 4b. The last frost comes by May 21 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 15.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Milford Colony from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (42%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 18%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Milford Colony and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Milford Colony yet.
Climates most like Milford Colony’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milford Colony, MT | 17° | 81° | 16" | 67" |
| Laramie, WY | 12° | 81° | 12" | 64" |
| Gleneagle, CO | 14° | 84° | 21" | 55" |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 16° | 84° | 18" | 90" |
| Rexburg, ID | 12° | 84° | 13" | 70" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Milford Colony averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+5.4°).
A bigger shift than in 53% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Milford Colony compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Milford Colony’s place among Montana’s.
Milford Colony weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Milford Colony’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Cascade 5 S, MT. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 17° | 0.6" | 10.6" | 5 | 15° – 36° |
| February | 37° | 17° | 0.7" | 10.5" | 6 | 3° – 39° |
| March | 45° | 23° | 0.8" | 9.2" | 7 | 22° – 42° |
| April | 53° | 30° | 1.6" | 9.9" | 9 | 36° – 46° |
| May | 63° | 38° | 2.7" | 1.2" | 9 | 45° – 55° |
| June | 71° | 45° | 2.8" | 0.0" | 10 | 54° – 63° |
| July | 81° | 50° | 1.2" | 0.0" | 6 | 56° – 72° |
| August | 80° | 48° | 1.1" | 0.2" | 6 | 58° – 68° |
| September | 70° | 41° | 1.4" | 0.3" | 5 | 51° – 61° |
| October | 55° | 32° | 1.2" | 4.6" | 6 | 36° – 50° |
| November | 42° | 25° | 0.8" | 9.8" | 5 | 24° – 43° |
| December | 35° | 18° | 0.7" | 10.5" | 5 | 15° – 34° |
| Year | 56° | 32° | 15.6" | 66.8" | 80 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 3° to 39°. August is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Where Milford Colony’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Milford Colony’s center.
- Snow: Cascade 5 S, MT.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Rogers Pass 9 Nne, MT, 10 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Milford Colony’s climate
What is the weather like in Milford Colony?
A typical July afternoon reaches 81°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 67 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 75% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 86% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Milford Colony in winter?
February nights average 17°. About 169 nights a year reach 32° or below and 21 reach 0° or below. In the coldest February of the last 30 years the month averaged 3°.
How much snow does Milford Colony get?
About 67 inches in a normal winter at Cascade 5 S, MT, most of it in January, February, April, November and December.
How hot does it get in Milford Colony?
July, with a typical high of 81° and a low of 50°. About 12 days a year reach 90° (Rogers Pass 9 Nne, MT).
When is the first and last frost in Milford Colony?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 21 and the first fall frost by September 15, about 115 frost-free days, at Rogers Pass 9 Nne, MT.
What growing zone is Milford Colony in?
Zone 4b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −25°.
What is the best time of year to visit Milford Colony?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Milford Colony getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 53% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Milford Colony.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.