USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 29591 — Scranton, South Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Lake City 2 SE, SC (75 ft), 5 miles southeast.
Updated
In Scranton, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 20 in half of years and has passed by April 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 13, as early as October 30 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 240 days (NOAA, Lake City 2 SE, SC).
- Last spring frost
- March 20
- First fall frost
- November 13
- Growing season
- 240 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 19 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Scranton
Half of springs at Lake City 2 SE, SC see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by February 25, and one in ten still has one after April 5. Planting tender crops after March 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 20%, and after April 5 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 13 in half of years, as early as October 30 one year in ten, and holds off past December 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 240 days in a typical year, longer than at 72% of the 105 South Carolina stations; it reaches 272 days one year in ten and falls short of 216 one year in ten. On average 53 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 April 2, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 42%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 15 | Mar 22 | Mar 26 | Mar 31 | Apr 2 | Apr 5 | Apr 8 | Apr 12 | Apr 18 |
| 32°F | Feb 25 | Mar 5 | Mar 11 | Mar 16 | Mar 20 | Mar 24 | Mar 28 | Apr 1 | Apr 5 |
| 28°F | Feb 4 | Feb 13 | Feb 23 | Feb 27 | Mar 4 | Mar 9 | Mar 14 | Mar 19 | Mar 26 |
| 24°F99% of yrs | Jan 13 | Jan 24 | Jan 31 | Feb 4 | Feb 11 | Feb 19 | Feb 27 | Mar 4 | Mar 12 |
| 20°F81% of yrs | Dec 28 | Jan 8 | Jan 16 | Jan 22 | Jan 28 | Feb 1 | Feb 6 | Feb 16 | Feb 28 |
| 16°F42% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 20 | Oct 25 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 12 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F | Oct 30 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 9 | Nov 13 | Nov 17 | Nov 22 | Nov 29 | Dec 4 |
| 28°F | Nov 7 | Nov 13 | Nov 18 | Nov 23 | Nov 28 | Dec 2 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 25 |
| 24°F99% of yrs | Nov 20 | Nov 28 | Dec 2 | Dec 7 | Dec 13 | Dec 21 | Dec 29 | Jan 4 | Jan 14 |
| 20°F81% of yrs | Dec 2 | Dec 10 | Dec 21 | Dec 29 | Jan 2 | Jan 8 | Jan 14 | Jan 20 | Feb 1 |
| 16°F42% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Lake City 2 SE, 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 29591 →Compare Scranton with another place →
Weather by month in Scranton
July is the warmest month at Lake City 2 SE, SC, averaging 92°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 34°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 80% of years and April still brings one in 20% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,752 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 76% of the 105 South Carolina stations. 40% of them (2,305) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 987. Precipitation totals 49.8 inches a year, most in July (5.8") 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 | 34 | 3.7 | 100% | 16 | 71 |
| Feb | 61 | 37 | 3.5 | 96% | 11 | 93 |
| Mar | 68 | 43 | 3.6 | 80% | 6 | 216 |
| Apr | 77 | 50 | 3.2 | 20% | <1 | 412 |
| May | 83 | 59 | 4.2 | 0% | 0 | 663 |
| Jun | 89 | 67 | 4.8 | 0% | 0 | 851 |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 5.8 | 0% | 0 | 987 |
| Aug | 91 | 70 | 5.8 | 0% | 0 | 942 |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 4.7 | 0% | 0 | 757 |
| Oct | 77 | 53 | 3.5 | 12% | 1 | 471 |
| Nov | 68 | 42 | 3.1 | 79% | 6 | 192 |
| Dec | 61 | 37 | 3.9 | 98% | 13 | 97 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lake City 2 SE, SC (75 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, Cades 4 W, SC, 10 miles southwest of Scranton, has a last frost 7 days later (March 27), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 9), a season 13 days shorter.
When it snows in Scranton, South Carolina
Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Lake City 2 SE, SC, 4.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 29591
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 9 – January 23 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 23 – February 6 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 20 – March 6 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 20 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 21 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 30 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 13 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 29591 is 5 miles from Lake City 2 SE, SC, which stands at 75 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 29560 (Lake City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 29591 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.