USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 29073 — Lexington, South Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Columbia, SC (231 ft), 6 miles east.
Updated
In Lexington, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 25 in half of years and has passed by April 10 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 7, as early as October 26 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 229 days (NOAA, Columbia, SC).
- Last spring frost
- March 25
- First fall frost
- November 7
- Growing season
- 229 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8b
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 22%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
5 of 23 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Lexington
Half of springs at Columbia, SC see their last 32°F night by March 25; only one in ten is past it by March 4, and one in ten still has one after April 10. Planting tender crops after April 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 10 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 44% of the 105 South Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 7 in half of years, as early as October 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 28, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 229 days in a typical year, shorter than at 54% of the 105 South Carolina stations; it reaches 256 days one year in ten and falls short of 207 one year in ten. On average 47 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 11 days longer, to about April 5, and return around October 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 53%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 20 | Mar 27 | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 5 | Apr 8 | Apr 11 | Apr 15 | Apr 19 |
| 32°F | Mar 4 | Mar 13 | Mar 17 | Mar 21 | Mar 25 | Mar 28 | Apr 1 | Apr 4 | Apr 10 |
| 28°F | Feb 14 | Feb 23 | Feb 28 | Mar 5 | Mar 10 | Mar 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 22 | Mar 28 |
| 24°F | Jan 23 | Jan 31 | Feb 7 | Feb 13 | Feb 19 | Feb 25 | Mar 1 | Mar 9 | Mar 15 |
| 20°F91% of yrs | Dec 31 | Jan 12 | Jan 19 | Jan 26 | Jan 31 | Feb 4 | Feb 11 | Feb 20 | Mar 2 |
| 16°F53% of yrs | Dec 22 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Jan 14 | Jan 19 | Jan 23 | Jan 30 | Feb 3 | Feb 11 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 17 | Oct 22 | Oct 25 | Oct 27 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 6 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F | Oct 26 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 14 | Nov 18 | Nov 24 |
| 28°F | Nov 4 | Nov 9 | Nov 14 | Nov 18 | Nov 22 | Nov 26 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 14 |
| 24°F | Nov 18 | Nov 25 | Nov 30 | Dec 3 | Dec 7 | Dec 13 | Dec 21 | Dec 30 | Jan 7 |
| 20°F91% of yrs | Dec 1 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 22 | Dec 29 | Jan 3 | Jan 8 | Jan 16 | Jan 29 |
| 16°F53% of yrs | Dec 13 | Dec 23 | Dec 30 | Jan 3 | Jan 7 | Jan 12 | Jan 17 | Jan 25 | Feb 3 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Columbia, SC, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.
Frost risk on any date in 29073 →Compare Lexington with another place →
Weather by month in Lexington
July is the warmest month at Columbia, SC, averaging 93°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 35°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 89% of years and April still brings one in 31% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,815 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 105 South Carolina stations. 41% of them (2,373) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,003. Precipitation totals 45.4 inches a year, most in July (5.4") and least in April (2.8"); May to September bring 50% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | 35 | 3.5 | 100% | 14 | 66 |
| Feb | 61 | 37 | 3.4 | 99% | 9 | 90 |
| Mar | 68 | 44 | 3.6 | 89% | 4 | 229 |
| Apr | 77 | 52 | 2.8 | 31% | 1 | 427 |
| May | 84 | 61 | 3.5 | 0% | 0 | 687 |
| Jun | 90 | 69 | 5.0 | 0% | 0 | 874 |
| Jul | 93 | 72 | 5.4 | 0% | 0 | 1003 |
| Aug | 91 | 71 | 4.7 | 0% | 0 | 961 |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 3.9 | 0% | 0 | 765 |
| Oct | 77 | 53 | 3.1 | 26% | 1 | 456 |
| Nov | 66 | 42 | 2.8 | 94% | 6 | 173 |
| Dec | 59 | 37 | 3.7 | 98% | 12 | 84 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Columbia, SC (231 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.
Compared with the next station
The nearest other station, Pelion 0.8 NW, SC, 10 miles south of Lexington and 220 feet higher, has a last frost 3 days later (March 28), a first frost 3 days earlier (November 4), a season 8 days shorter.
When it snows in Lexington, South Carolina
Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 23 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Pelion 0.8 NW, SC, 10.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 29073
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 14 – January 28 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 28 – February 11 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 25 – March 11 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 25 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 15 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 24 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 7 onward | Plant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter. |
The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.
Where these figures come from
ZIP 29073 is 6 miles from Columbia, SC, which stands at 231 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 29072 (Lexington). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 29073 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.
Frost dates across South Carolina →
Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.
Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.