USDA Hardiness Zone 6a
Frost Dates for 45368 — South Charleston, Ohio
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from London Fish Hatchery, OH (1,120 ft), 9 miles northeast.
Updated
In South Charleston, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 24 in half of years and has passed by May 10 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 18, as early as October 5 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 175 days (NOAA, London Fish Hatchery, OH).
- Last spring frost
- April 24
- First fall frost
- October 18
- Growing season
- 175 days
- Hardiness zone
- 6a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night
- First snow
- December 25
- Last snow
- March 10
- Winters with snow
- 94%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
16 of 17 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in South Charleston
Half of springs at London Fish Hatchery, OH see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 10, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 53% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 18 in half of years, as early as October 5 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, shorter than at 68% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 157 one year in ten. On average 132 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 10 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 2 and March 11.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 20 | Apr 24 | Apr 28 | May 1 | May 4 | May 7 | May 10 | May 15 | May 20 |
| 32°F | Apr 10 | Apr 15 | Apr 19 | Apr 21 | Apr 24 | Apr 27 | Apr 30 | May 4 | May 10 |
| 28°F | Mar 31 | Apr 4 | Apr 7 | Apr 10 | Apr 14 | Apr 17 | Apr 19 | Apr 24 | Apr 30 |
| 24°F | Mar 16 | Mar 21 | Mar 25 | Mar 30 | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 5 | Apr 11 | Apr 16 |
| 20°F | Mar 5 | Mar 11 | Mar 15 | Mar 19 | Mar 22 | Mar 25 | Mar 29 | Mar 31 | Apr 4 |
| 16°F | Feb 23 | Feb 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 7 | Mar 11 | Mar 15 | Mar 18 | Mar 23 | Mar 28 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 23 | Sep 29 | Oct 1 | Oct 4 | Oct 7 | Oct 9 | Oct 11 | Oct 15 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | Oct 5 | Oct 8 | Oct 11 | Oct 15 | Oct 18 | Oct 21 | Oct 23 | Oct 27 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Oct 15 | Oct 19 | Oct 23 | Oct 26 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 7 | Nov 12 |
| 24°F | Oct 25 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 12 | Nov 16 | Nov 20 | Nov 27 |
| 20°F | Nov 3 | Nov 9 | Nov 13 | Nov 17 | Nov 21 | Nov 26 | Nov 30 | Dec 3 | Dec 10 |
| 16°F | Nov 14 | Nov 20 | Nov 25 | Nov 30 | Dec 2 | Dec 6 | Dec 11 | Dec 17 | Dec 24 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at London Fish Hatchery, OH, 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 45368 →Compare South Charleston with another place →
Weather by month in South Charleston
July is the warmest month at London Fish Hatchery, OH, averaging 82°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 33°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 30% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 3,022 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 77% of the 148 Ohio stations. 35% of them (1,070) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 694. Precipitation totals 42.4 inches a year, most in July (5.0") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 48% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33 | 19 | 3.1 | 100% | 28 | 3 |
| Feb | 37 | 21 | 2.3 | 100% | 24 | 3 |
| Mar | 48 | 29 | 3.7 | 100% | 22 | 29 |
| Apr | 61 | 39 | 4.1 | 99% | 9 | 111 |
| May | 71 | 50 | 4.7 | 30% | 1 | 341 |
| Jun | 79 | 60 | 4.7 | 0% | 0 | 584 |
| Jul | 82 | 63 | 5.0 | 0% | 0 | 694 |
| Aug | 81 | 61 | 2.9 | 0% | 0 | 642 |
| Sep | 76 | 53 | 2.9 | 4% | <1 | 430 |
| Oct | 64 | 41 | 2.8 | 88% | 6 | 153 |
| Nov | 50 | 32 | 3.0 | 100% | 18 | 30 |
| Dec | 39 | 24 | 3.2 | 100% | 25 | 3 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at London Fish Hatchery, OH (1,120 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, Springfield Wtp, OH, 12 miles northwest of South Charleston and 169 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day later (April 25), a first frost 1 day later (October 19).
When it snows in South Charleston, Ohio
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in South Charleston usually arrives around December 25, and the last of the season around March 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at London Fish Hatchery, OH, 8.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 94% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 45 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 45368
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| February 13 – February 27 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 27 – March 13 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 27 – April 10 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 24 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by July 26 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 4 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| October 18 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 45368 is 9 miles from London Fish Hatchery, OH, which stands at 1,120 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 43140 (London). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 45368 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.
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.