Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Charleston in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Charleston during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 67°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.
- Tonight 67°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 61°F Above 36°F · Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
- Sat, Nov 7 50°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 49°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 49°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Tue, Nov 10 50°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 51°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Charleston
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is January 8, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Charleston City. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | Jan 29 · Feb 25 · Mar 17 | Nov 20 · Dec 10 · Jan 7 | 290 days |
| 32°F freeze | Jan 5 · Feb 4 · Mar 4 | Dec 2 · Dec 30 · Jan 25 | 321 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Dec 27 · Jan 24 · Feb 20 | Dec 15 · Jan 8 · Feb 3 | 352 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Charleston City
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Charleston, SC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Charleston City (station USW00013782, elevation 10 ft), 4.1 mi from Charleston. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Charleston
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant, SC | 6.2 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 30 |
| James Island, SC | 6.8 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 30 |
| Hanahan, SC | 7.5 mi | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| North Charleston, SC | 8.1 mi | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| Goose Creek, SC | 12 mi | Mar 7 | Nov 27 |
| Hollywood, SC | 14 mi | Mar 1 | Dec 6 |
| Summerville, SC | 17 mi | Mar 22 | Nov 12 |
| Moncks Corner, SC | 25 mi | Mar 10 | Nov 26 |
| Walterboro, SC | 41 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 12 |
| Beaufort, SC | 50 mi | Feb 28 | Dec 3 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Charleston?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Charleston is around February 4. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 4, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after January 5.
When is the first frost in Charleston?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around December 30. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by December 2 and a 90% chance by January 25.
Can it frost in Charleston after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after February 25.
What growing zone is Charleston?
Charleston is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 20 to 25°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 29405. See growing zones in South Carolina.
More: all South Carolina frost dates · South Carolina growing zones · UV index today in Charleston · frost vs. freeze