What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 59868 today?

About 42°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 41°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 4.4 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 59868?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Jun 16 and 55°F from Jun 19.

ZIP 59868 · Montana · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 59868

42°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 41°F · high 45°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 4.4 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

7° warmer

35°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

39°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

Jun 19

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 lettuceToo cold

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	34.9°F	33.2°F	37.9°F	analysis
Nov 5	35.0°F	34.1°F	35.7°F	analysis
Nov 6	35.0°F	34.5°F	35.3°F	analysis
Nov 7	36.6°F	34.8°F	40.3°F	analysis
Nov 8	39.4°F	38.0°F	40.7°F	analysis
Nov 9	37.1°F	35.2°F	38.9°F	analysis
Nov 10	38.8°F	37.5°F	41.3°F	analysis
Today	42.2°F	40.9°F	45.2°F	analysis
Nov 12	41.6°F	40.2°F	43.8°F	forecast
Nov 13	39.9°F	38.4°F	41.7°F	forecast
Nov 14	38.4°F	36.6°F	40.2°F	forecast
Nov 15	35.9°F	34.4°F	36.8°F	forecast
Nov 16	35.0°F	33.6°F	37.7°F	forecast
Nov 17	36.7°F	35.9°F	38.5°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 16
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	Jun 19
60°F	Tomatoes	not reached
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	not reached

Missoula, MT, 52 km away: the full city page, with the 2026 season chart, growing degree days and nearby cities →

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

59854 35°F · 59823 43°F · 59826 43°F · 59821 45°F · 59865 45°F · 59802 44°F · 59851 45°F · 59863 45°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 59868 today?: About 42°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 41°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 4.4 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 59868?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Jun 16 and 55°F from Jun 19.

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).