U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00381944 · South Carolina

Frost Dates for Columbia University of SC, SC

NOAA weather station Columbia University of SC (USC00381944), South Carolina · elevation 223 ft (68 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 3only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 1650% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 1650% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season245 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Columbia University of SC, SCSpring: a frost after February 24 in 9 years out of 10, after March 16 in half of the years, after April 3 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 2 in 1 year out of 10, before November 16 in half of the years, before December 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 245 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 16First frost ~Nov 16Frost season at Columbia University of SC, SCSpring: a frost after February 24 in 9 years out of 10, after March 16 in half of the years, after April 3 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 2 in 1 year out of 10, before November 16 in half of the years, before December 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 245 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 16First frost ~Nov 16
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 3November 2
50% (typical)March 16November 16
90% (likely)February 24December 6
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
245 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 1
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
December 2

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 15 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 14 (2 days earlier). Frost-free season 245 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Columbia University of SC: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 3, 20% March 28, 30% March 24, 40% March 19, 50% March 16, 60% March 13, 70% March 8, 80% March 1, 90% February 24. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 3, 2022 March 14, 2023 March 21, 2024 February 25, 2025 March 3, 2026 March 29.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 3Mar 16Feb 242021: April 32022: March 142023: March 212024: February 252025: March 32026: March 29Fall at Columbia University of SC: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% November 2, 20% November 6, 30% November 9, 40% November 13, 50% November 16, 60% November 19, 70% November 24, 80% December 1, 90% December 6. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 23, 2022 November 18, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 30, 2025 November 11.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Nov 2Nov 16Dec 62021: November 232022: November 182023: November 22024: November 302025: November 11
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 3November 23
2022March 14November 18
2023March 21November 2
2024February 25November 30
2025March 3November 11
2026March 29season not over yet

What these dates mean

April 3 is the cautious spring date for light frost, giving a gardener a 10% chance that a frost will occur later and allowing tender crops to be set out with low risk. The 50% date is March 16, which marks an even chance of a frost later than this date, while the hard-frost 50% date is March 1. In fall the cautious light-frost date is November 2, providing only a 10% chance that frost has arrived earlier, and the 50% date is November 16 with an even chance of a frost earlier than this date; the hard-frost 50% date is December 2. A hard frost at 28 °F can injure or kill plants that survive a 32 °F light frost, so it matters more for tender crops. The record spans 28 years, and the period between the two 32 °F 50% dates is 245 days.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 3" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before November 2" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Columbia University of SC, SCNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Columbia, SC — 6 mi; 2 — near Chapin, SC — 27 mi; 3 — Saluda, SC — 43 mi; 4 — Bamberg, SC — 48 mi; 5 — Chester, SC — 49 mi.SCGA25 mi · 40 km1. Columbia, SC — 6 mi12. near Chapin, SC — 27 mi23. Saluda, SC — 43 mi34. Bamberg, SC — 48 mi45. Chester, SC — 49 mi5
  1. Columbia, SC 6 mi (10 km)
  2. near Chapin, SC 27 mi (43 km)
  3. Saluda, SC 43 mi (69 km)
  4. Bamberg, SC 48 mi (78 km)
  5. Chester, SC 49 mi (79 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 33.9917, -81.0244.