USDA Hardiness Zone 8a
Frost Dates for 29653 — Hodges, South Carolina
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Greenwood Co Airport, SC (631 ft), 5 miles southeast.
Updated
In Hodges, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 1 in half of years and has passed by April 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 2, as early as October 20 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 216 days (NOAA, Greenwood Co Airport, SC).
- Last spring frost
- April 1
- First fall frost
- November 2
- Growing season
- 216 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 45%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
9 of 20 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Hodges
Half of springs at Greenwood Co Airport, SC see their last 32°F night by April 1; only one in ten is past it by March 14, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 12 20%, and after April 18 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 57% of the 105 South Carolina stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 2 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 6, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 216 days in a typical year, shorter than at 84% of the 105 South Carolina stations; it reaches 241 days one year in ten and falls short of 195 one year in ten. On average 58 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 April 13, and return around October 24. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 80%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 28 | Apr 3 | Apr 6 | Apr 10 | Apr 13 | Apr 17 | Apr 19 | Apr 23 | Apr 27 |
| 32°F | Mar 14 | Mar 20 | Mar 25 | Mar 29 | Apr 1 | Apr 5 | Apr 7 | Apr 12 | Apr 18 |
| 28°F | Feb 25 | Mar 3 | Mar 10 | Mar 15 | Mar 19 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Mar 31 | Apr 6 |
| 24°F | Feb 3 | Feb 13 | Feb 19 | Feb 25 | Mar 1 | Mar 7 | Mar 14 | Mar 19 | Mar 26 |
| 20°F98% of yrs | Jan 13 | Jan 24 | Jan 30 | Feb 3 | Feb 9 | Feb 17 | Feb 24 | Mar 1 | Mar 14 |
| 16°F80% of yrs | Dec 30 | Jan 7 | Jan 15 | Jan 21 | Jan 26 | Jan 31 | Feb 5 | Feb 13 | Feb 24 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 12 | Oct 16 | Oct 19 | Oct 22 | Oct 24 | Oct 27 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 5 |
| 32°F | Oct 20 | Oct 25 | Oct 28 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 11 | Nov 17 |
| 28°F | Oct 31 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 13 | Nov 17 | Nov 21 | Nov 27 | Dec 3 |
| 24°F | Nov 11 | Nov 17 | Nov 23 | Nov 27 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 7 | Dec 16 | Dec 29 |
| 20°F98% of yrs | Nov 26 | Dec 2 | Dec 6 | Dec 12 | Dec 22 | Dec 29 | Jan 3 | Jan 9 | Jan 20 |
| 16°F80% of yrs | Dec 6 | Dec 19 | Dec 26 | Jan 1 | Jan 5 | Jan 10 | Jan 16 | Jan 21 | Jan 31 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Greenwood Co 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 29653 →Compare Hodges with another place →
Weather by month in Hodges
July is the warmest month at Greenwood Co Airport, SC, averaging 90°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 53°F and 32°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 53% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 4,933 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 82% of the 105 South Carolina stations. 40% of them (1,953) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 910. Precipitation totals 42.0 inches a year, most in March (4.2") and least in April (2.8"); May to September bring 41% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53 | 32 | 3.9 | 100% | 16 | 39 |
| Feb | 57 | 35 | 3.6 | 100% | 12 | 57 |
| Mar | 65 | 41 | 4.2 | 95% | 6 | 163 |
| Apr | 73 | 48 | 2.8 | 53% | 1 | 336 |
| May | 81 | 57 | 3.0 | 0% | 0 | 580 |
| Jun | 87 | 65 | 3.7 | 0% | 0 | 778 |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 3.8 | 0% | 0 | 910 |
| Aug | 89 | 68 | 3.3 | 0% | 0 | 873 |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 3.4 | 0% | 0 | 672 |
| Oct | 74 | 49 | 3.0 | 42% | 1 | 359 |
| Nov | 63 | 39 | 3.3 | 98% | 8 | 114 |
| Dec | 56 | 34 | 4.0 | 99% | 15 | 52 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Greenwood Co Airport, SC (631 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, Greenwood, SC, 7 miles southeast of Hodges, has a last frost 6 days earlier (March 26), a first frost 10 days later (November 12), a season 17 days longer.
When it snows in Hodges, South Carolina
Measurable snow is rare here: only 9 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Greenwood, SC, 7.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 29653
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 21 – February 4 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 4 – February 18 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 4 – March 18 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 1 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 10 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 19 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 2 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 29653 is 5 miles from Greenwood Co Airport, SC, which stands at 631 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 29649 (Greenwood). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 29653 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°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.