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Your nature year

Columbia, South Carolinathrough the year

Also for Lexington, SC: the same nearby places.

When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Columbia?

We follow 3 places within 150 miles of Columbia; the nearest lies 16 miles to the south. The closest place we follow is Congaree National Park, 16 miles away, for fall foliage, usually at its best Oct 21–Nov 10. Congaree National Park (16 mi) is the pick for synchronous fireflies, usually May 11–Jun 20. At NOAA's Sandhill Rsch - Elgin station, 6.6 miles away, the average first fall frost is Nov 15 and the last spring frost Mar 22, which leaves Columbia some 238 growing days. Spring green-up reaches town around Feb 6, with first blooms around Mar 10. Columbia sits at about 323 feet.

Updated Sep 27. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Best this weekend nearby

Oct 3–Oct 4 · within 150 straight-line miles of Columbia
  1. Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina · 142 mi · Fall foliage

    Usually Oct 1–31

    Sat Oct 3: Chance Rain Showers, 64°F · Sun Oct 4: Rain Showers Likely, 59°F

    No report yet

Places in their own usual window that weekend; reports are the latest official ones, forecasts from the National Weather Service.

Columbia's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Mar 22 to ~Nov 15
  • First leaf ~Feb 6
  • First bloom ~Mar 10
  • Today

Near Columbia right now

  • First fall frost usually around Nov 15 · last spring frost around Mar 22NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sandhill Rsch - Elgin (6.6 mi, 50% dates)
    ~7 weeks
  • Fall foliage · Congaree National Park · 16 miusually Oct 21–Nov 10
    ~3 weeks

Columbia's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Spring green-upFeb
  • Wildflowers · Pisgah National ForestMar–May
  • Last spring frostMar
  • Synchronous fireflies · Congaree National ParkMay–Jun
  • Fall foliage · Congaree National ParkOct–Nov
  • First fall frostNov

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

Synchronous fireflies

Wildflowers

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Mar 22

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Nov 15

About 238 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Feb 6

First bloom around Mar 10

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Sandhill Rsch - Elgin (6.6 mi from Columbia), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.

Questions people ask

When is the first frost in Columbia?

On average around Nov 15, and the last spring frost around Mar 22: about 238 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Sandhill Rsch - Elgin, 6.6 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach Columbia?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 6 and first bloom around Mar 10, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near Columbia?

Congaree National Park, 16 miles (usually Oct 21–Nov 10); Pisgah National Forest, 132 miles (statewide: usually well under way by mid-October); Blue Ridge Parkway, 142 miles (usually Oct 1–31). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see synchronous fireflies near Columbia?

Congaree National Park, 16 miles (usually May 11–Jun 20). Distances are straight-line.

How we know

US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)

All our sources and how we use them →