Weather in Bozeman? (Belgrade, Three Forks: house, neighborhood, to buy)

[Skyblues]

I'm looking at moving to Bozeman for a job. Currently, my wife and I live in Logan, UT. We love it here. Our biggest concern is about the weather. We love the four seasons, gardening and outdoor recreation (especially in the summer). We don't want to be cooped up inside for 6-7 months out of the year with snow and REALLY cold temps. So, I have questions...When does the snow begin and how long does it last? Is there enough of a growing season to plant a garden and get tomatoes before a freeze? Does it get below zero often?

Also, we love the rural lifestyle (chickens, growing our own food, owning a bit of land, etc.). Is that lifestyle possible in Bozeman?

Thanks!

[NWbyNW]

Bozeman's climate is mild during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 60's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 20's.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 81.80 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 13.90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be relatively big during summer with a difference that can reach 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Bozeman is 19.29 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 3.22 Inches.

Snowfall often starts in November and ends in March. It varies by elevation. So you might be dry in the city itself, but in the hills and mountains around you, you can see the snow. It does not often hit zero, but it does get into the 20s and teens during the winter. It really can vary, and depending on the wind, it can make it feel colder.

[happiness is]

Every year the weather is highly variable. This winter has been the mildest on record with much less snowfall in town than normal and warmer temps.

I garden in Bozeman using clear plastic covering over tender plants when the temps may be too low at night in spring and fall. Position your garden where there can be some shelter from hail, like a hedge, fence, or wall on the west side.

Hail can take out your whole garden, but it is unpredictable, not hitting us every year, some years more destructive than others.

Yes, you can grow tomatoes. Bozeman is even more of a rural area than Logan, UT. I have two neighbors in my neighborhood in town who have their own backyard chickens. Go to google maps and compare Bozeman and Logan, and you can see how sparsely populated it is around Bozeman. The growing season will be shorter than Logan, UT, but with care you can still have a good vegetable garden, just don't expect watermelon.

Hope that helps.

H.I.

[Geo Roam]

Originally Posted by happiness is

but with care you can still have a good vegetable garden, just don't expect watermelon.

Hope that helps.

H.I.

Or peppers unless you start them in early February.

[happiness is]

I grow bell peppers in pots, as you can bring them inside the house to keep growing over the winter. Each year you can get larger crops by doing it that way, and the plants keep getting larger and stronger.

H.I.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by Skyblues

I'm looking at moving to Bozeman for a job. Currently, my wife and I live in Logan, UT. We love it here. Our biggest concern is about the weather. We love the four seasons, gardening and outdoor recreation (especially in the summer). We don't want to be cooped up inside for 6-7 months out of the year with snow and REALLY cold temps. So, I have questions...When does the snow begin and how long does it last? Is there enough of a growing season to plant a garden and get tomatoes before a freeze? Does it get below zero often?

Also, we love the rural lifestyle (chickens, growing our own food, owning a bit of land, etc.). Is that lifestyle possible in Bozeman?

Thanks!

There is no shortage of outdoor activities in Bozeman year round. The snow usually starts in late October to early November and will last until April. However, Bozeman does not usually have severe winds which makes even very low temperatures tolerable. I don't think it would be a huge shocker from Logan, UT. As far as gardening, I think the Gallatin Valley has relatively fertile soil compared to much of Montana but it is nothing like the Midwestern USA. The rural lifestyle is a bit tougher to come by in Bozeman. The town has grown a tremendous amount in the last ten years and so land is becoming harder to find and very expensive to buy. If you really want to be rural but have the convenience of Bozeman you may also consider Manhatten, Three Forks, or Belgrade (although that is also fast-growing).

[Ms_Christina]

Growing up in Bozeman we used to tell people Montana has 3 seasons. July, August, and Winter.

[rock_chalk]

Some good charts:
Freeze-free probabilities
Average daily snowfall
Temperatures

You might want to invert your color scheme if these are hard to read.

The WRCC is a great source for further info.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by Ms_Christina

Growing up in Bozeman we used to tell people Montana has 3 seasons. July, August, and Winter.

There are only two; Winter and Road Construction.

[natrldsastr]

See now, I call them Ice, Mud, and Dust.