What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 60050 today?

About 48°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 47°F and high 49°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 9.5 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 60050?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 12 and 55°F from May 17.

ZIP 60050 · McHenry, IL · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 60050

48°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 47°F · high 49°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 9.5 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

12° cooler

60°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

46°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	60.4°F	58.1°F	61.8°F	analysis
Nov 5	53.0°F	51.6°F	55.3°F	analysis
Nov 6	46.9°F	45.8°F	49.6°F	analysis
Nov 7	42.5°F	39.5°F	45.1°F	analysis
Nov 8	44.7°F	41.4°F	49.1°F	analysis
Nov 9	46.9°F	43.8°F	49.8°F	analysis
Nov 10	49.5°F	46.3°F	52.8°F	analysis
Today	48.3°F	47.2°F	49.2°F	analysis
Nov 12	44.3°F	42.7°F	46.3°F	forecast
Nov 13	38.5°F	37.2°F	39.5°F	forecast
Nov 14	37.1°F	36.1°F	39.0°F	forecast
Nov 15	39.2°F	36.4°F	42.5°F	forecast
Nov 16	39.8°F	36.2°F	43.0°F	forecast
Nov 17	40.1°F	37.0°F	42.9°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 21
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	May 12
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	May 17
60°F	Tomatoes	May 27
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	not reached

McHenry, IL, 2 km away: the full city page, with the 2026 season chart, growing degree days and nearby cities →

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

60051 48°F · 60012 48°F · 60072 48°F · 60042 48°F · 60097 48°F · 60014 48°F · 60020 48°F · 60041 48°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 60050 today?: About 48°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 47°F and high 49°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 9.5 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 60050?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 12 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).