Frost dates for Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC
At Columbia Univ Of Sc, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 16 and the median first fall frost is Nov 16, for a typical growing season of 245 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 3. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Mar 16Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 3Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 16First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 245 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 11 | Mar 28 | Apr 13 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Mar 16 | Apr 3 |
| 28°F | Jan 31 | Mar 1 | Mar 23 |
| 24°F | Jan 11 | Feb 11 | Mar 11 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 24 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 |
| 32°F | Nov 2 | Nov 16 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F | Nov 12 | Dec 2 | Dec 30 |
| 24°F | Nov 29 | Dec 26 | Jan 20 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 201 days | 221 days | 245 days |
| 32°F | 221 days | 245 days | 275 days |
| 28°F | 247 days | 277 days | 310 days |
| 24°F | 278 days | 311 days | 348 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 97% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29225 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 1 km |
| 29208 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 1 km |
| 29201 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 1 km |
| 29204 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 5 km |
| 29033 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 5 km |
| 29206 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 7 km |
| 29210 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 10 km |
| 29203 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 12 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00381944, at 33.9917, -81.0244, elevation 68 m (223 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 33.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Columbia Owens Dwtn Airport (4 km)
- Columbia (10 km)
- Sandhill Rsch - Elgin (21 km)
- Cedar Creek 2e (26 km)
- Pelion 0.8 NW (33 km)
- N 5ne (37 km)
- Winnsboro (42 km)
- Little Mountain (43 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.
All South Carolina stations · How frost dates are calculated