Frost dates / By state
Frost dates in South Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals for a 32 °F freeze. Your own yard can run a little either side.
Short answer
Across 16 NOAA weather stations in South Carolina, the average last spring frost runs from February 4 at Charleston City to April 1 at Greenwood Co Airport. The first fall frost comes as early as November 2 at Greenwood Co Airport and as late as December 30 at Charleston City. Planting zones near these stations run from 8a to 9a.
South Carolina cities
- Frost dates in Charleston: last frost February 4, first frost December 30
- Frost dates in Columbia: last frost March 13, first frost November 19
Find yours by ZIP code
The table below is by weather station. For the station nearest you, and your planting zone, type your ZIP code.
South Carolina frost dates by weather station
| Station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free | Zone nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson Co Airport 760 ft | March 29 1 in 10 after April 13 | November 8 1 in 10 by October 26 | 224 days | 8a |
| Beaufort MCAS 37 ft | February 28 1 in 10 after March 21 | December 3 1 in 10 by November 14 | 278 days | 9a |
| Blackville 3 W 317 ft | March 20 1 in 10 after April 8 | November 13 1 in 10 by October 29 | 238 days | 8b |
| Charleston City 10 ft | February 4 1 in 10 after March 4 | December 30 1 in 10 by December 2 | 329 days | 9a |
| Charleston Intl Airport 40 ft | March 7 1 in 10 after March 27 | November 27 1 in 10 by November 8 | 265 days | 9a |
| Clemson Oconee Co Airport 891 ft | March 21 1 in 10 after April 7 | November 11 1 in 10 by October 28 | 235 days | 8b |
| Columbia 231 ft | March 25 1 in 10 after April 10 | November 7 1 in 10 by October 26 | 227 days | 8b |
| Columbia Owens Dwtn Airport 212 ft | March 13 1 in 10 after March 31 | November 19 1 in 10 by November 5 | 251 days | 8b |
| Florence Rgnl Airport 146 ft | March 19 1 in 10 after April 5 | November 13 1 in 10 by November 1 | 239 days | 8b |
| Greenville Dwtn Airport 1,048 ft | March 16 1 in 10 after April 2 | November 20 1 in 10 by November 4 | 249 days | 8a |
| Greenwood Co Airport 631 ft | April 1 1 in 10 after April 18 | November 2 1 in 10 by October 20 | 215 days | 8a |
| Greer 940 ft | March 28 1 in 10 after April 14 | November 7 1 in 10 by October 26 | 224 days | 8a |
| Mcclellanville 7 NE 9 ft | February 28 1 in 10 after March 25 | December 1 1 in 10 by November 11 | 276 days | 9a |
| N Myrtle Bch Airport 32 ft | March 13 1 in 10 after March 31 | November 20 1 in 10 by November 4 | 252 days | 8b |
| Orangeburg Muni Airport 197 ft | March 15 1 in 10 after March 31 | November 19 1 in 10 by November 3 | 249 days | 8b |
| Rock Hill York Co Airport 669 ft | March 31 1 in 10 after April 15 | November 4 1 in 10 by October 23 | 218 days | 8a |
The average date is NOAA's 50% date: half of years have a later last frost, or an earlier first one. Plan by the 1-in-10 date if a freeze would cost you plants. Stations are NOAA's main weather stations, mostly airports. “Zone nearby” is the USDA 2023 zone of the nearest ZIP code within 10 miles. NOAA counts the frost season from August to July, so in the warmest places the “first fall” freeze lands after New Year.
How these dates work
Frost dates come from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, which work out from each weather station's daily lows how likely the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (32 °F) are by each date. We use the station nearest the middle of your ZIP code and show its height and distance, since a station on a hill or by a lake can differ from your yard.
The average date is the 50% date: half of years have a freeze after the spring date or before the fall one. The 1-in-10 dates are NOAA's 10% dates, the ones to plan by if a late freeze would cost you plants. Within one yard, cold air pools in low spots while walls and paving hold heat, so some corners freeze before others.
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Where the numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University (zone data)
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal
- NOAA, Normals calculation methodology (frost-freeze probability dates)
- US Census Bureau, 2025 ZCTA gazetteer (ZIP code centers)