U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00385017 · South Carolina

Frost Dates for Laurens, SC

NOAA weather station Laurens (USC00385017), South Carolina · elevation 589 ft (180 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 17only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 550% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season219 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Laurens, SCSpring: a frost after March 15 in 9 years out of 10, after April 1 in half of the years, after April 17 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 23 in 1 year out of 10, before November 5 in half of the years, before November 20 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 219 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 1First frost ~Nov 5Frost season at Laurens, SCSpring: a frost after March 15 in 9 years out of 10, after April 1 in half of the years, after April 17 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 23 in 1 year out of 10, before November 5 in half of the years, before November 20 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 219 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 1First frost ~Nov 5
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 26 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 17October 23
50% (typical)April 1November 5
90% (likely)March 15November 20
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
219 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 18
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 17

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 2 (1 day later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 4 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 218 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 Laurens: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 17, 20% April 10, 30% April 7, 40% April 3, 50% April 1, 60% March 29, 70% March 25, 80% March 21, 90% March 15. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 4, 2022 April 10, 2023 March 22, 2024 March 20, 2025 March 7, 2026 March 20.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1May 1Apr 17Apr 1Mar 152021: April 42022: April 102023: March 222024: March 202025: March 72026: March 20Fall at Laurens: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 23, 20% October 28, 30% November 1, 40% November 2, 50% November 5, 60% November 7, 70% November 11, 80% November 15, 90% November 20. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 14, 2022 October 19, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 22, 2025 November 11.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 23Nov 5Nov 202021: November 142022: October 192023: November 22024: November 222025: 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 4November 14
2022April 10October 19
2023March 22November 2
2024March 20November 22
2025March 7November 11
2026March 20season not over yet

What these dates mean

April 17 is the cautious spring light-frost date for Laurens, and it marks the point at which a gardener can set out tender crops with only a 10 % chance of a later frost.

The 50 % light-frost date of April 1 indicates an even-odds chance of a frost occurring after that day, while the 50 % hard-frost date of March 18 signals an even-odds chance of a hard freeze after that day. In the fall, October 23 is the cautious light-frost date, giving a gardener a 10 % chance that a frost has arrived earlier, suitable for finishing harvest of tender crops. The 50 % light-frost date of November 5 likewise means a 50 % chance of a frost earlier than that day, and the hard-frost 50 % date of November 17 signals equal odds for a hard freeze.

A hard frost at 28 °F can injure plants that would survive a light frost at 32 °F, so it represents a more severe threat.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 17" 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 23" 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 Laurens, SCNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Greer, SC — 29 mi; 2 — Spartanburg, SC — 29 mi; 3 — Santuck, SC — 30 mi; 4 — Anderson, SC — 36 mi; 5 — Saluda, SC — 38 mi.SCGANC25 mi · 40 km1. Greer, SC — 29 mi12. Spartanburg, SC — 29 mi23. Santuck, SC — 30 mi34. Anderson, SC — 36 mi45. Saluda, SC — 38 mi5
  1. Greer, SC 29 mi (46 km)
  2. Spartanburg, SC 29 mi (47 km)
  3. Santuck, SC 30 mi (48 km)
  4. Anderson, SC 36 mi (59 km)
  5. Saluda, SC 38 mi (61 km)

Sources

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

Station coordinates: 34.4989, -82.0219.