U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00381770 · South Carolina

Frost Dates for Clemson, SC

NOAA weather station Clemson University (USC00381770), South Carolina · elevation 800 ft (244 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 18only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 350% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season217 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Clemson, SCSpring: a frost after March 16 in 9 years out of 10, after April 1 in half of the years, after April 18 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 21 in 1 year out of 10, before November 3 in half of the years, before November 17 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 217 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 1First frost ~Nov 3Frost season at Clemson, SCSpring: a frost after March 16 in 9 years out of 10, after April 1 in half of the years, after April 18 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 21 in 1 year out of 10, before November 3 in half of the years, before November 17 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 217 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 1First frost ~Nov 3
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 18October 21
50% (typical)April 1November 3
90% (likely)March 16November 17
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
217 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 19
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 13

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 31 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 2 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 219 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Clemson: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 18, 20% April 11, 30% April 7, 40% April 3, 50% April 1, 60% March 30, 70% March 26, 80% March 22, 90% March 16. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 10, 2023 March 22, 2024 April 6, 2025 March 7, 2026 March 19.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1May 1Apr 18Apr 1Mar 162021: April 222022: April 102023: March 222024: April 62025: March 72026: March 19Fall at Clemson: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 21, 20% October 25, 30% October 29, 40% November 1, 50% November 3, 60% November 5, 70% November 8, 80% November 12, 90% November 17. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 14, 2022 October 19, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 29, 2025 November 11.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 21Nov 3Nov 172021: November 142022: October 192023: November 22024: November 292025: November 11
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 22November 14
2022April 10October 19
2023March 22November 2
2024April 6November 29
2025March 7November 11
2026March 19season not over yet

What these dates mean

The period between the two 32 °F 50% dates in Clemson spans 217 days, from April 1 in spring to November 3 in fall, marking the point where a light frost is equally likely to have occurred or not. Gardeners can use those median dates as a broad reference for planning activities that are not frost-sensitive.

April 18 is the cautious date for setting out tender crops, with only a 10 % chance of a light frost later, while March 16 carries a 90 % chance and is a gamble. In the autumn, October 21 is the cautious date to finish harvesting tender crops, with only a 10 % chance of a light frost earlier, whereas November 17 represents a 90 % chance and is a gamble.

Hard frost at 28 °F, highlighted by the 50% dates March 19 and November 13, matters more than light frost because it reaches a temperature that can kill plant tissue rather than merely chill it.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 18" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 21" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Clemson, SCNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Anderson County Airport, SC — 13 mi; 2 — Anderson, SC — 13 mi; 3 — Walhalla, SC — 16 mi; 4 — Caesars Head, SC — 33 mi; 5 — Highlands, NC — 35 mi.SCGANCTN25 mi · 40 km1. Anderson County Airport, SC — 13 mi12. Anderson, SC — 13 mi23. Walhalla, SC — 16 mi34. Caesars Head, SC — 33 mi45. Highlands, NC — 35 mi5
  1. Anderson County Airport, SC 13 mi (21 km)
  2. Anderson, SC 13 mi (21 km)
  3. Walhalla, SC 16 mi (25 km)
  4. Caesars Head, SC 33 mi (53 km)
  5. Highlands, NC 35 mi (56 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 34.6603, -82.8233.