Plant By Frost

South Carolina

Frost dates for Columbia Owens Dwtn Airport, SC

At this NOAA station the last spring frost (32°F) usually comes by March 13 and the first fall frost around November 19, giving a growing season of about 253 days.

March 13average last spring frost
November 19average first fall frost
JanAprJulOctDec

Frost odds

1 year in 10 the last spring frost is later thanMarch 31
Half of years the last spring frost is later thanMarch 13
9 years in 10 the last spring frost is later thanFebruary 21
1 year in 10 the first fall frost is earlier thanNovember 5
Half of years the first fall frost is earlier thanNovember 19
9 years in 10 the first fall frost is earlier thanDecember 8

A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends by February 24 and returns around December 4.

A light frost (36°F, which can still nip tender plants) usually ends by March 27 and returns around November 8.

Station USW00053867, elevation 65 m. Based on 19 years of 1991 to 2020 records. A garden higher up, in a hollow or far from this station can freeze later in spring.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Annual/Seasonal Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020 (freeze probability dates by station), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, checked 1 November 2026
  2. Annual/Seasonal Normals 1991 to 2020 documentation, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, checked 1 November 2026
  3. 2024 Gazetteer Files, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, US Census Bureau, checked 1 November 2026