What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 49838 today?

About 44°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 42°F and high 45°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 3.7 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 49838?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 28 and 55°F from Jun 6.

ZIP 49838 · Michigan · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 49838

44°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 42°F · high 45°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 3.7 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

13° cooler

57°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

44°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

Jun 6

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	56.7°F	56.1°F	57.2°F	analysis
Nov 5	51.5°F	46.7°F	55.0°F	analysis
Nov 6	41.8°F	40.7°F	44.0°F	analysis
Nov 7	39.4°F	37.5°F	41.7°F	analysis
Nov 8	44.5°F	43.1°F	46.0°F	analysis
Nov 9	45.7°F	44.5°F	46.7°F	analysis
Nov 10	46.9°F	44.9°F	48.0°F	analysis
Today	44.1°F	42.3°F	44.9°F	analysis
Nov 12	39.5°F	37.9°F	42.0°F	forecast
Nov 13	36.3°F	36.1°F	36.6°F	forecast
Nov 14	37.2°F	36.4°F	38.0°F	forecast
Nov 15	38.5°F	37.5°F	40.1°F	forecast
Nov 16	40.7°F	39.2°F	42.2°F	forecast
Nov 17	42.3°F	40.4°F	44.5°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 13
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	May 28
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	Jun 6
60°F	Tomatoes	not reached
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	not reached

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

49820 44°F · 49836 44°F · 49827 43°F · 49840 44°F · 49762 43°F · 49853 44°F · 49883 43°F · 49854 44°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 49838 today?: About 44°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 42°F and high 45°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 3.7 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 49838?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 28 and 55°F from Jun 6.

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).