USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 29204 — Columbia, South Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC (223 ft), 3 miles southwest.
Updated
In Columbia, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 16 in half of years and has passed by April 3 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 16, as early as November 2 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 245 days (NOAA, Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC).
- Last spring frost
- March 16
- First fall frost
- November 16
- Growing season
- 245 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
- 12%
- Snow per year
- 0.2"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
3 of 26 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Columbia
Half of springs at Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC see their last 32°F night by March 16; only one in ten is past it by February 24, and one in ten still has one after April 3. Planting tender crops after March 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 3 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 77% of the 105 South Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 16 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past December 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 23, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 245 days in a typical year, longer than at 81% of the 105 South Carolina stations; it reaches 275 days one year in ten and falls short of 221 one year in ten. On average 33 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 12 days longer, to about March 28, and return around November 5. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 34%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 11 | Mar 16 | Mar 20 | Mar 24 | Mar 28 | Mar 31 | Apr 4 | Apr 8 | Apr 13 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Mar 1 | Mar 8 | Mar 13 | Mar 16 | Mar 19 | Mar 24 | Mar 28 | Apr 3 |
| 28°F | Jan 31 | Feb 11 | Feb 19 | Feb 25 | Mar 1 | Mar 5 | Mar 11 | Mar 16 | Mar 23 |
| 24°F97% of yrs | Jan 11 | Jan 23 | Jan 29 | Feb 4 | Feb 11 | Feb 18 | Feb 25 | Mar 3 | Mar 11 |
| 20°F75% of yrs | Dec 31 | Jan 9 | Jan 17 | Jan 22 | Jan 28 | Feb 1 | Feb 9 | Feb 18 | Feb 28 |
| 16°F34% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 24 | Oct 29 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 15 | Nov 20 |
| 32°F | Nov 2 | Nov 6 | Nov 9 | Nov 13 | Nov 16 | Nov 19 | Nov 24 | Dec 1 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F | Nov 12 | Nov 18 | Nov 24 | Nov 28 | Dec 2 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 20 | Dec 30 |
| 24°F97% of yrs | Nov 29 | Dec 4 | Dec 9 | Dec 19 | Dec 26 | Jan 1 | Jan 5 | Jan 10 | Jan 20 |
| 20°F75% of yrs | Dec 11 | Dec 22 | Dec 30 | Jan 3 | Jan 7 | Jan 11 | Jan 17 | Jan 25 | Feb 7 |
| 16°F34% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Columbia Univ Of Sc, 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 29204 →Compare Columbia with another place →
Weather by month in Columbia
July is the warmest month at Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC, averaging 96°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 37°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 78% of years and April still brings one in 14% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 6,450 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 94% of the 105 South Carolina stations. 42% of them (2,719) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,049. Precipitation totals 48.0 inches a year, most in June (5.4") and least in April (2.9"); May to September bring 49% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 37 | 3.8 | 100% | 11 | 93 |
| Feb | 64 | 40 | 3.5 | 95% | 6 | 131 |
| Mar | 72 | 46 | 4.1 | 78% | 3 | 300 |
| Apr | 81 | 54 | 2.9 | 14% | <1 | 514 |
| May | 87 | 62 | 3.6 | 0% | 0 | 760 |
| Jun | 93 | 69 | 5.4 | 0% | 0 | 922 |
| Jul | 96 | 72 | 5.2 | 0% | 0 | 1049 |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 5.0 | 0% | 0 | 1006 |
| Sep | 89 | 66 | 4.3 | 0% | 0 | 817 |
| Oct | 80 | 54 | 3.3 | 6% | <1 | 523 |
| Nov | 69 | 44 | 3.0 | 79% | 3 | 225 |
| Dec | 61 | 39 | 3.9 | 97% | 9 | 110 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC (223 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, Columbia Owens Dwtn Airport, SC, 4 miles south of Columbia, has a last frost 3 days earlier (March 13), a first frost 3 days later (November 19), a season 8 days longer.
When it snows in Columbia, South Carolina
Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC, 2.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 29204
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 5 – January 19 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 19 – February 2 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 16 – March 2 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 16 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 24 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 2 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 16 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 29204 is 3 miles from Columbia Univ Of Sc, SC, which stands at 223 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 29203 (Columbia). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 29204 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.