USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 29475 — Ruffin, South Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Walterboro 1 SW, SC (56 ft), 10 miles southeast.
Updated
In Ruffin, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 19 in half of years and has passed by April 9 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 12, as early as October 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 239 days (NOAA, Walterboro 1 SW, SC).
- Last spring frost
- March 19
- First fall frost
- November 12
- Growing season
- 239 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
- 5%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
1 of 20 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Ruffin
Half of springs at Walterboro 1 SW, SC see their last 32°F night by March 19; only one in ten is past it by February 24, and one in ten still has one after April 9. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 20%, and after April 9 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 95% of the 105 South Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 12 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 25, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 239 days in a typical year, longer than at 69% of the 105 South Carolina stations; it reaches 266 days one year in ten and falls short of 210 one year in ten. On average 44 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 14 days longer, to about April 2, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 96% of winters and 16°F in 34%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 12 | Mar 20 | Mar 25 | Mar 30 | Apr 2 | Apr 6 | Apr 10 | Apr 15 | Apr 21 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Mar 3 | Mar 9 | Mar 15 | Mar 19 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Apr 1 | Apr 9 |
| 28°F | Feb 7 | Feb 15 | Feb 21 | Feb 26 | Mar 1 | Mar 5 | Mar 11 | Mar 17 | Mar 25 |
| 24°F96% of yrs | Jan 18 | Jan 28 | Feb 1 | Feb 5 | Feb 12 | Feb 19 | Feb 25 | Mar 3 | Mar 12 |
| 20°F76% of yrs | Jan 1 | Jan 12 | Jan 18 | Jan 25 | Jan 30 | Feb 2 | Feb 9 | Feb 17 | Feb 28 |
| 16°F34% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 19 | Oct 24 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 6 | Nov 10 | Nov 16 |
| 32°F | Oct 29 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 12 | Nov 16 | Nov 19 | Nov 24 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F | Nov 6 | Nov 13 | Nov 18 | Nov 23 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 6 | Dec 15 | Dec 29 |
| 24°F96% of yrs | Nov 20 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 21 | Dec 30 | Jan 4 | Jan 10 | Jan 21 |
| 20°F76% of yrs | Dec 8 | Dec 20 | Dec 29 | Jan 2 | Jan 6 | Jan 11 | Jan 17 | Jan 26 | Feb 7 |
| 16°F34% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Walterboro 1 SW, 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 29475 →Compare Ruffin with another place →
Weather by month in Ruffin
July is the warmest month at Walterboro 1 SW, SC, averaging 91°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 35°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December 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 79% of years and April still brings one in 21% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,657 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 70% of the 105 South Carolina stations. 41% of them (2,294) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 955. Precipitation totals 51.5 inches a year, most in August (7.2") and least in November (3.1"); May to September bring 51% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 35 | 4.0 | 100% | 14 | 78 |
| Feb | 62 | 38 | 3.7 | 98% | 9 | 93 |
| Mar | 69 | 44 | 3.5 | 79% | 4 | 239 |
| Apr | 76 | 50 | 3.6 | 21% | <1 | 401 |
| May | 83 | 60 | 3.6 | 0% | 0 | 657 |
| Jun | 87 | 68 | 5.6 | 0% | 0 | 825 |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.2 | 0% | 0 | 955 |
| Aug | 89 | 70 | 7.2 | 0% | 0 | 914 |
| Sep | 84 | 65 | 4.6 | 0% | 0 | 738 |
| Oct | 76 | 53 | 3.7 | 15% | 1 | 462 |
| Nov | 68 | 42 | 3.1 | 87% | 5 | 191 |
| Dec | 61 | 38 | 3.7 | 95% | 11 | 104 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Walterboro 1 SW, SC (56 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, Yemassee 1 N, SC, 19 miles south of Ruffin, has a last frost 4 days later (March 23), a first frost 6 days earlier (November 6), a season 6 days shorter.
When it snows in Ruffin, South Carolina
Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Yemassee 1 N, SC, 19.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 29475
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 8 – January 22 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 22 – February 5 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 19 – March 5 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 19 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 20 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 29 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 12 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 29475 is 10 miles from Walterboro 1 SW, SC, which stands at 56 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 29488 (Walterboro). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 29475 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.