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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 29853 — Williston, South Carolina

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Blackville 3 W, SC (317 ft), 7 miles southeast.

Updated

In Williston, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 20 in half of years and has passed by April 8 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 13, as early as October 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 238 days (NOAA, Blackville 3 W, SC).

Last spring frost
March 20

50% probability

First fall frost
November 13

50% probability

Growing season
238 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
17%

3 of 18 observed

Snow per year
0.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Williston

Half of springs at Blackville 3 W, SC see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by February 27, and one in ten still has one after April 8. Planting tender crops after March 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 8 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 86% 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 29 one year in ten, and holds off past December 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around November 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 238 days in a typical year, longer than at 67% of the 105 South Carolina stations; it reaches 266 days one year in ten and falls short of 212 one year in ten. On average 39 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 96% of winters and 16°F in 39%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 16Mar 22Mar 27Mar 30Apr 2Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 18
32°FFeb 27Mar 6Mar 12Mar 16Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28Apr 2Apr 8
28°FFeb 6Feb 17Feb 24Mar 1Mar 5Mar 10Mar 15Mar 19Mar 26
24°F96% of yrsJan 17Jan 27Feb 2Feb 6Feb 12Feb 19Feb 28Mar 5Mar 14
20°F77% of yrsDec 30Jan 9Jan 16Jan 22Jan 29Feb 1Feb 6Feb 17Feb 28
16°F39% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 20Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 17
32°FOct 29Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 13Nov 16Nov 22Nov 26Dec 2
28°FNov 9Nov 16Nov 20Nov 25Nov 30Dec 3Dec 7Dec 13Dec 28
24°F96% of yrsNov 24Dec 1Dec 6Dec 12Dec 20Dec 29Jan 2Jan 8Jan 16
20°F77% of yrsDec 5Dec 13Dec 24Jan 1Jan 4Jan 9Jan 14Jan 21Feb 1
16°F39% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Blackville 3 W, 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 29853 →Compare Williston with another place →

Weather by month in Williston

July is the warmest month at Blackville 3 W, SC, averaging 91°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 36°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 85% of years and April still brings one in 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,629 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 69% of the 105 South Carolina stations. 41% of them (2,303) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 950. Precipitation totals 46.2 inches a year, most in June (5.3") and least in November (2.5"); May to September bring 49% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Blackville 3 W, SC
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan57363.6100%1375
Feb61383.797%995
Mar68443.985%3226
Apr76513.324%<1404
May83603.00%0668
Jun88675.30%0835
Jul91714.40%0950
Aug89705.10%0910
Sep84644.80%0732
Oct76532.715%<1457
Nov66432.585%4184
Dec59383.998%994

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Blackville 3 W, SC (317 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, Barnwell 5 ENE, SC, 15 miles southeast of Williston, has a last frost 2 days later (March 22), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 9), a season 5 days shorter.

Frost dates for 29812 (Barnwell) →

When it snows in Williston, South Carolina

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Aiken 5SE, SC, 16.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 29853

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Williston, South Carolina
WhenWhat to do
January 9 – January 23Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 23 – February 6Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 20 – March 6Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 20 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 21Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 30Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 13 onwardPlant 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 29853 is 7 miles from Blackville 3 W, SC, which stands at 317 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 29853 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.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8b places in South Carolina