USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 29568 — Longs, South Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from N Myrtle Bch Airport, SC (32 ft), 7 miles south.
Updated
In Longs, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 13 in half of years and has passed by March 31 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 20, as early as November 4 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 255 days (NOAA, N Myrtle Bch Airport, SC).
- Last spring frost
- March 13
- First fall frost
- November 20
- Growing season
- 255 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
- 10%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
2 of 20 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Longs
Half of springs at N Myrtle Bch Airport, SC see their last 32°F night by March 13; only one in ten is past it by February 20, and one in ten still has one after March 31. Planting tender crops after March 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 26 20%, and after March 31 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 20 in half of years, as early as November 4 one year in ten, and holds off past December 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 18, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 255 days in a typical year, longer than at 89% of the 105 South Carolina stations; it reaches 286 days one year in ten and falls short of 229 one year in ten. On average 34 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 13 days longer, to about March 26, and return around November 10. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 92% of winters and 16°F in 19%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 6 | Mar 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 22 | Mar 26 | Mar 29 | Apr 2 | Apr 6 | Apr 10 |
| 32°F | Feb 20 | Feb 27 | Mar 3 | Mar 8 | Mar 13 | Mar 16 | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Mar 31 |
| 28°F | Jan 29 | Feb 5 | Feb 12 | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Mar 2 | Mar 6 | Mar 12 | Mar 18 |
| 24°F92% of yrs | Jan 5 | Jan 16 | Jan 25 | Jan 30 | Feb 2 | Feb 7 | Feb 16 | Feb 27 | Mar 5 |
| 20°F61% of yrs | Dec 30 | Jan 6 | Jan 13 | Jan 18 | Jan 23 | Jan 27 | Jan 31 | Feb 3 | Feb 14 |
| 16°F19% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 28 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 12 | Nov 15 | Nov 20 | Nov 28 |
| 32°F | Nov 4 | Nov 10 | Nov 13 | Nov 16 | Nov 20 | Nov 24 | Nov 30 | Dec 4 | Dec 16 |
| 28°F | Nov 15 | Nov 21 | Nov 27 | Dec 1 | Dec 6 | Dec 14 | Dec 22 | Dec 31 | Jan 6 |
| 24°F92% of yrs | Nov 27 | Dec 6 | Dec 15 | Dec 23 | Dec 30 | Jan 3 | Jan 7 | Jan 14 | Jan 24 |
| 20°F61% of yrs | Dec 14 | Dec 24 | Jan 1 | Jan 6 | Jan 10 | Jan 15 | Jan 19 | Jan 25 | Feb 1 |
| 16°F19% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at N Myrtle Bch Airport, 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 29568 →Compare Longs with another place →
Weather by month in Longs
July is the warmest month at N Myrtle Bch Airport, SC, averaging 88°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°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 73% of years and April still brings one in 10% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,640 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 70% of the 105 South Carolina stations. 39% of them (2,190) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 950. Precipitation totals 48.7 inches a year, most in September (6.7") and least in April (2.8"); May to September bring 52% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 37 | 3.0 | 99% | 12 | 71 |
| Feb | 58 | 40 | 3.2 | 96% | 7 | 80 |
| Mar | 65 | 45 | 3.6 | 73% | 3 | 199 |
| Apr | 72 | 53 | 2.8 | 10% | <1 | 380 |
| May | 79 | 62 | 3.0 | 0% | 0 | 632 |
| Jun | 85 | 70 | 4.1 | 0% | 0 | 826 |
| Jul | 88 | 74 | 5.4 | 0% | 0 | 950 |
| Aug | 87 | 73 | 6.3 | 0% | 0 | 915 |
| Sep | 83 | 68 | 6.7 | 0% | 0 | 763 |
| Oct | 76 | 56 | 4.2 | 4% | <1 | 496 |
| Nov | 66 | 46 | 3.3 | 69% | 3 | 214 |
| Dec | 59 | 40 | 3.1 | 93% | 9 | 112 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at N Myrtle Bch Airport, SC (32 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, Myrtle Beach, SC, 12 miles south of Longs, has a last frost 8 days later (March 21), a first frost 7 days earlier (November 13), a season 16 days shorter.
When it snows in Longs, South Carolina
Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Myrtle Beach, SC, 11.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 29568
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 2 – January 16 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 16 – January 30 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 13 – February 27 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 13 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 28 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 6 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 20 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 29568 is 7 miles from N Myrtle Bch Airport, SC, which stands at 32 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 29566 (Little River). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 29568 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.