Your nature year
Hilton Head Island, South Carolinathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Hilton Head Island?
Savannah Refuge, 20 miles from Hilton Head Island, is the nearest winter wildlife spot on this site, Dec 1–Jan 31 (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Congaree National Park (113 mi, usually Oct 21–Nov 10).
At roughly 3 feet, Hilton Head Island is about as low as towns get. Hilton Head Island usually sees its last spring frost around Mar 3 and its first fall frost around Dec 9, a frost-free stretch of about 281 days at the nearest NOAA station, Beaufort Wwtp. Spring takes about 4 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Jan 28 and first bloom around Feb 25. We follow 3 places within 150 miles of Hilton Head Island; the nearest lies 20 miles to the west.
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)
Hilton Head Island's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 3 to ~Dec 9
- First leaf ~Jan 28
- First bloom ~Feb 25
- Today
Near Hilton Head Island right now
- First fall frost usually around Dec 9 · last spring frost around Mar 3NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Beaufort Wwtp (14.4 mi, 50% dates)~2 months
- Fall foliage · Congaree National Park · 113 miusually Oct 21–Nov 10~3 weeks
Hilton Head Island's nature year
- Jan: Spring green-upJan
- Mar: Last spring frostMar
- Synchronous fireflies · Congaree National ParkMay–Jun
- Fall foliage · Congaree National ParkOct–Nov
- Dec: First fall frostDec
- Winter wildlife · Savannah RefugeDec–Jan
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Congaree National Park · 113 miusually Oct 21–Nov 10~3 weeks
Synchronous fireflies
- Congaree National Park · 113 miusually May 11–Jun 20~7 months
Winter wildlife
- Savannah Refuge · 20 miLocal timing: Dec 1–Jan 31~2 months
- Santee Refuge · 94 miLocal timing: Nov 1–Feb 28~5 weeks
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 3
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 9
About 281 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 28
First bloom around Feb 25
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Beaufort Wwtp (14.4 mi from Hilton Head Island), 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 Hilton Head Island?
On average around Dec 9, and the last spring frost around Mar 3: about 281 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Beaufort Wwtp, 14.4 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Hilton Head Island?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 28 and first bloom around Feb 25, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Hilton Head Island?
Congaree National Park, 113 miles (usually Oct 21–Nov 10). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see synchronous fireflies near Hilton Head Island?
Congaree National Park, 113 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)