Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Lancaster in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Lancaster during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 63°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 63°F Above 36°F · Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
- Fri, Nov 6 50°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 40°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 42°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 43°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 Lancaster
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 18, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Winthrop University. 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 24 · Apr 9 · Apr 23 | Oct 16 · Oct 27 · Nov 9 | 203 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 10 · Mar 27 · Apr 11 | Oct 24 · Nov 5 · Nov 23 | 225 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 23 · Mar 15 · Mar 31 | Nov 2 · Nov 18 · Dec 9 | 249 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Winthrop University
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 Lancaster, SC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Winthrop University (station USC00389350, elevation 650 ft), 21 mi from Lancaster. 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 Lancaster
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waxhaw, NC | 15 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 5 |
| Marvin, NC | 19 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 5 |
| Wesley Chapel, NC | 20 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 5 |
| Rock Hill, SC | 20 mi | Mar 27 | Nov 5 |
| Weddington, NC | 21 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 5 |
| Fort Mill, SC | 22 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
| Monroe, NC | 23 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 1 |
| Chester, SC | 24 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 2 |
| Indian Trail, NC | 25 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 5 |
| Tega Cay, SC | 25 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Lancaster?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Lancaster is around March 27. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 11, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 10.
When is the first frost in Lancaster?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 5. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 24 and a 90% chance by November 23.
Can it frost in Lancaster 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 9.
What growing zone is Lancaster?
Lancaster is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 10 to 15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 29720. See growing zones in South Carolina.
More: all South Carolina frost dates · South Carolina growing zones · frost vs. freeze