COLUMBIA, S.C. — The start of the fall season in the Midlands has been mostly warm and dry. October's temperatures have been mostly above average, but during the middle of the month, we did experience not only below-seasonal-average high temperatures but also low temperatures close to freezing. However, those low temperatures were not cold enough to cause the first freeze.
There has also been a lack of rainfall across the Midlands, and that has caused abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions to return to a large portion of South Carolina.
Seasonally, the first freeze usually occurs in the first week of November. Although Oct. 18 and 19 got close, with morning temperatures of 36 and 37 degrees, respectively, those were the only dates in the month when temperatures dropped into the 30s.
Climate Central's data shows the date of the first freeze of the season has averaged from late October to now mid-November. That's an increase of 12 days since 1970.
Climate Central explains that later freeze dates lead to more freeze-free days each year. According to the EPA, the growing season is now more than two weeks longer on average across the contiguous United States compared to the beginning of the 20th century.
Some plants and animals may benefit from longer growing seasons starting in mid-November. However, this can also lead to more water and heat stress and longer pollen and pest seasons.
Later fall freezes and longer growing seasons can lengthen and worsen the fall allergy season by extending the amount of time ragweed grows. This can also allow mosquitos and other disease-carrying insects to emerge earlier and survive later, creating more opportunities for pests to bite people and potentially transmit disease.
A later freeze can also impact fruit and nut crops. These crops depend on a certain number of sustained cooler days to maintain a higher quality.
