What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 21798 today?

About 51°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 48°F and high 54°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 5.7 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 21798?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Apr 14 and 55°F from May 17.

ZIP 21798 · Walkersville, MD · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 21798

51°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 48°F · high 54°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 5.7 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

6° cooler

57°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

52°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

May 17

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	56.6°F	53.9°F	59.8°F	analysis
Nov 5	61.6°F	60.0°F	63.7°F	analysis
Nov 6	62.9°F	62.2°F	63.2°F	analysis
Nov 7	57.6°F	55.3°F	61.5°F	analysis
Nov 8	52.0°F	50.1°F	53.1°F	analysis
Nov 9	50.9°F	48.8°F	52.1°F	analysis
Nov 10	49.8°F	46.7°F	53.0°F	analysis
Today	51.1°F	48.1°F	53.7°F	analysis
Nov 12	52.4°F	51.9°F	53.5°F	forecast
Nov 13	49.0°F	47.7°F	50.8°F	forecast
Nov 14	42.9°F	40.9°F	44.0°F	forecast
Nov 15	41.6°F	39.3°F	43.5°F	forecast
Nov 16	41.5°F	38.4°F	44.0°F	forecast
Nov 17	41.5°F	38.6°F	43.7°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	Mar 6
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	Apr 14
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	May 17
60°F	Tomatoes	Jun 5
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	Jun 8

Frederick, MD, 17 km away: the full city page, with the 2026 season chart, growing degree days and nearby cities →

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

21793 51°F · 21757 51°F · 21762 51°F · 21778 51°F · 21791 51°F · 21701 51°F · 21788 51°F · 21702 51°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 21798 today?: About 51°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 48°F and high 54°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 5.7 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 21798?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Apr 14 and 55°F from May 17.

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).