Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for North Charleston, South Carolina

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Charleston Intl Airport, 1.9 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMar 7
First fall frostNov 27
266 frost-free days
Last spring frostMar 71 year in 10 after Mar 27
First fall frostNov 271 year in 10 by Nov 8
Growing season266 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 9a20 to 25°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in North Charleston in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in North 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.

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 North Charleston

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Charleston Intl Airport. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast 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 Feb 28 · Mar 21 · Apr 6 Nov 1 · Nov 13 · Dec 1 239 days
32°F freeze Feb 12 · Mar 7 · Mar 27 Nov 8 · Nov 27 · Dec 21 266 days
28°F hard freeze Jan 21 · Feb 20 · Mar 14 Nov 21 · Dec 15 · Jan 13 301 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013880. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Charleston Intl Airport

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 North Charleston, SC come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Charleston Intl Airport (station USW00013880, elevation 40 ft), 1.9 mi from North 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 North Charleston

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Hanahan, SC 3.7 mi Mar 7 Nov 27
Goose Creek, SC 6.2 mi Mar 7 Nov 27
Charleston, SC 8.1 mi Feb 4 Dec 30
Summerville, SC 8.7 mi Mar 22 Nov 12
Mount Pleasant, SC 14 mi Mar 13 Nov 30
Hollywood, SC 14 mi Mar 1 Dec 6
James Island, SC 14 mi Feb 4 Dec 30
Moncks Corner, SC 20 mi Mar 10 Nov 26
Walterboro, SC 35 mi Mar 19 Nov 12
Beaufort, SC 50 mi Feb 28 Dec 3

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in North Charleston?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in North Charleston is around March 7. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 27, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after February 12.

When is the first frost in North Charleston?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 27. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 8 and a 90% chance by December 21.

Can it frost in North 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 March 21.

What growing zone is North Charleston?

North 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 29404. See growing zones in South Carolina.

More: all South Carolina frost dates · South Carolina growing zones · UV index today in North Charleston · frost vs. freeze