What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 57271 today?

About 46°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 44°F and high 47°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 3.2 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 57271?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 11 and 55°F from May 26.

ZIP 57271 · Watertown, SD · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 57271

46°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 44°F · high 47°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 3.2 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

1° warmer

45°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

45°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	45.0°F	43.7°F	47.1°F	analysis
Nov 5	41.9°F	40.8°F	42.9°F	analysis
Nov 6	38.9°F	37.7°F	40.2°F	analysis
Nov 7	40.1°F	36.1°F	46.2°F	analysis
Nov 8	44.8°F	42.3°F	47.2°F	analysis
Nov 9	47.4°F	45.1°F	50.8°F	analysis
Nov 10	45.8°F	43.1°F	48.3°F	analysis
Today	45.8°F	43.8°F	47.3°F	analysis
Nov 12	39.8°F	38.4°F	42.4°F	forecast
Nov 13	35.8°F	34.5°F	38.1°F	forecast
Nov 14	34.1°F	33.0°F	35.0°F	forecast
Nov 15	36.4°F	34.1°F	39.9°F	forecast
Nov 16	43.1°F	40.6°F	47.5°F	forecast
Nov 17	45.7°F	43.7°F	48.3°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 22
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	May 11
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	May 26
60°F	Tomatoes	May 27
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	not reached

Watertown, SD, 37 km away: the full city page, with the 2026 season chart, growing degree days and nearby cities →

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

57242 47°F · 57278 46°F · 57221 46°F · 57243 46°F · 57225 46°F · 57236 46°F · 57241 47°F · 57233 46°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 57271 today?: About 46°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 44°F and high 47°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 3.2 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 57271?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 11 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).