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Will it freeze in Columbia in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Columbia during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 64°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 64°F Above 36°F · Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
- Fri, Nov 6 53°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 43°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 43°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 45°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
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 Columbia
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 30, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sandhill Rsch - Elgin. 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 | Mar 16 · Apr 3 · Apr 19 | Oct 21 · Nov 4 · Nov 19 | 214 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 2 · Mar 22 · Apr 10 | Nov 1 · Nov 15 · Dec 4 | 239 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 14 · Mar 8 · Mar 28 | Nov 12 · Nov 30 · Dec 28 | 267 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Sandhill Rsch - Elgin
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 Columbia, SC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sandhill Rsch - Elgin (station USC00387666, elevation 440 ft), 6.6 mi from Columbia. 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 Columbia
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Acres, SC | 3.7 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 16 |
| Cayce, SC | 9.9 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 19 |
| West Columbia, SC | 12 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 7 |
| Blythewood, SC | 12 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 28 |
| Irmo, SC | 17 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 28 |
| Lexington, SC | 19 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 7 |
| Camden, SC | 23 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| Sumter, SC | 30 mi | Mar 24 | Nov 7 |
| Batesburg-Leesville, SC | 37 mi | Mar 20 | Nov 18 |
| Orangeburg, SC | 38 mi | Mar 13 | Nov 15 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Columbia?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Columbia is around March 22. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 10, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 2.
When is the first frost in Columbia?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 15. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 1 and a 90% chance by December 4.
Can it frost in Columbia 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 April 3.
What growing zone is Columbia?
Columbia is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 15 to 20°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 29206. See growing zones in South Carolina.
More: all South Carolina frost dates · South Carolina growing zones · UV index today in Columbia · frost vs. freeze