What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 04961 today?

About 39°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 38°F and high 40°F, from NOAA's GFS model run of Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern). It is a model value for a grid cell 13 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 04961?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Jun 5 and 55°F from Jun 10.

ZIP 04961 · Maine · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 04961

39°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 38°F · high 40°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 13 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

11° cooler

50°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

41°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

Jun 10

crabgrass germination temperature

What the soil says today

Pre-emergentSeason over
Cool-season seedToo late in the season
Warm-season seedToo cold
TomatoesToo cold
Peas and lettuceWarm enough

From the 5-day mean of the modelled 0–4 in layer.

Soil temperature, 0–4 in: last 7 days and next 7

°F, modelled. Dots and line: daily average (dashed = forecast); bars: low to high; green band: 50–55°F.

View as table

Day	Average	Low	High
Nov 4	50.0°F	47.4°F	53.2°F	analysis
Nov 5	52.3°F	50.1°F	53.9°F	analysis
Nov 6	52.6°F	51.8°F	53.4°F	analysis
Nov 7	47.5°F	44.5°F	50.3°F	analysis
Nov 8	40.5°F	39.1°F	42.8°F	analysis
Nov 9	38.6°F	37.5°F	39.5°F	analysis
Nov 10	38.6°F	37.9°F	39.5°F	analysis
Today	39.0°F	38.4°F	40.0°F	analysis
Nov 12	37.8°F	37.2°F	38.4°F	forecast
Nov 13	35.4°F	35.0°F	36.1°F	forecast
Nov 14	34.4°F	34.3°F	34.7°F	forecast
Nov 15	34.9°F	34.2°F	35.7°F	forecast
Nov 16	35.5°F	35.4°F	35.5°F	forecast
Nov 17	35.3°F	34.9°F	35.5°F	forecast

Source: NOAA NCEP GFS 0.25°, 0–10 cm soil temperature, run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern).

Spring 2026 threshold dates

From the 5-day mean held for 10 days or more.

Soil	What it means	Held from (spring 2026)
40°F	Peas and lettuce	May 5
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	Jun 5
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	Jun 10
60°F	Tomatoes	not reached
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	not reached

Waterville, ME, 79 km away: the full city page, with the 2026 season chart, growing degree days and nearby cities →

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

04947 39°F · 04982 37°F · 04925 39°F · 04983 39°F · 04920 40°F · 04985 38°F · 04958 41°F · 04979 40°F

More: crabgrass timing in Maine · every Maine city · how accurate the model is.

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 04961 today?: About 39°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 38°F and high 40°F, from NOAA's GFS model run of Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern). It is a model value for a grid cell 13 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 04961?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Jun 5 and 55°F from Jun 10.

Data: Global Forecast System (GFS) 0.25°, soil temperature 0–10 cm (TSOIL) (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)); 2025 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTA) and 2024 cartographic boundary state outlines (U.S. Census Bureau).