U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00389469 · South Carolina

Frost Dates for Yemassee, SC

NOAA weather station Yemassee 1 N (USC00389469), South Carolina · elevation 44 ft (13 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 11only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2350% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 650% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season233 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Yemassee, SCSpring: a frost after February 28 in 9 years out of 10, after March 23 in half of the years, after April 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 25 in 1 year out of 10, before November 6 in half of the years, before December 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 233 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 23First frost ~Nov 6Frost season at Yemassee, SCSpring: a frost after February 28 in 9 years out of 10, after March 23 in half of the years, after April 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 25 in 1 year out of 10, before November 6 in half of the years, before December 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 233 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 23First frost ~Nov 6
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.Today

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 11October 25
50% (typical)March 23November 6
90% (likely)February 28December 1
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
233 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 7
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 22

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 21 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 7 (1 day later). Frost-free season 234 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 Yemassee: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 11, 20% April 4, 30% March 30, 40% March 27, 50% March 23, 60% March 20, 70% March 15, 80% March 8, 90% February 28. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 4, 2022 April 10, 2023 March 22, 2024 February 21, 2025 March 3, 2026 March 19.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 11Mar 23Feb 282021: April 42022: April 102023: March 222024: February 212025: March 32026: March 19Fall at Yemassee: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 25, 20% October 30, 30% November 1, 40% November 4, 50% November 6, 60% November 10, 70% November 15, 80% November 20, 90% December 1. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 25, 2022 November 18, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 30, 2025 November 28.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 25Nov 6Dec 12021: November 252022: November 182023: November 22024: November 302025: November 28
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 4November 25
2022April 10November 18
2023March 22November 2
2024February 21November 30
2025March 3November 28
2026March 19season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 233 days between the 32°F 50% dates in Yemassee, March 23 and November 6, frame the interval when light frosts are less likely.

In spring, the cautious date for setting out tender crops is April 11, which carries only a 10% chance that a light frost will occur later. The 50% date is March 23, meaning there is an even chance of a frost later than that day. Planting on February 28, which has a 90% chance of a later frost, is a gamble. In fall, the cautious date to finish harvesting tender crops is October 25, with just a 10% chance that a light frost has already arrived. The 50% date is November 6, indicating an even chance of a frost earlier than that day, while planting on December 1 involves a 90% chance that a frost has already occurred.

The 50% hard-frost dates are March 7 and November 22, and a hard frost at 28 °F is more damaging than a light frost because it can kill plant tissue that survives a 32 °F event.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 11" 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 October 25" 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 Yemassee, SCNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Bamberg, SC — 42 mi; 2 — Savannah, GA — 45 mi; 3 — Charleston, SC — 49 mi; 4 — Brooklet, GA — 53 mi; 5 — Fort Stewart, GA — 73 mi.SC25 mi · 40 km1. Bamberg, SC — 42 mi12. Savannah, GA — 45 mi23. Charleston, SC — 49 mi34. Brooklet, GA — 53 mi45. Fort Stewart, GA — 73 mi5
  1. Bamberg, SC 42 mi (68 km)
  2. Savannah, GA 45 mi (72 km)
  3. Charleston, SC 49 mi (79 km)
  4. Brooklet, GA 53 mi (85 km)
  5. Fort Stewart, GA 73 mi (118 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: 32.7019, -80.8517.