What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 56521 today?

About 45°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 44°F and high 46°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 7.4 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 56521?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 25 and 55°F from May 26.

ZIP 56521 · Detroit Lakes, MN · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 56521

45°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 44°F · high 46°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 7.4 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

2° cooler

47°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

44°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

May 26

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	46.6°F	45.8°F	47.6°F	analysis
Nov 5	42.8°F	41.1°F	44.2°F	analysis
Nov 6	37.9°F	36.4°F	40.1°F	analysis
Nov 7	40.5°F	36.2°F	46.2°F	analysis
Nov 8	44.6°F	42.0°F	46.8°F	analysis
Nov 9	46.2°F	43.2°F	50.4°F	analysis
Nov 10	44.6°F	41.1°F	47.7°F	analysis
Today	45.1°F	44.0°F	46.1°F	analysis
Nov 12	37.5°F	36.2°F	39.3°F	forecast
Nov 13	34.1°F	31.9°F	36.1°F	forecast
Nov 14	33.5°F	31.6°F	35.4°F	forecast
Nov 15	34.9°F	33.5°F	38.1°F	forecast
Nov 16	42.0°F	38.6°F	47.3°F	forecast
Nov 17	45.6°F	43.5°F	48.0°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	Apr 14
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	May 25
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	May 26
60°F	Tomatoes	May 28
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	not reached

Fargo, ND, 69 km away: the full city page, with the 2026 season chart, growing degree days and nearby cities →

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

56569 44°F · 56591 44°F · 56501 45°F · 56511 46°F · 56554 45°F · 56578 44°F · 56552 45°F · 56541 45°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 56521 today?: About 45°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 44°F and high 46°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 7.4 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 56521?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 25 and 55°F from May 26.

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).