What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 81120 today?

About 40°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 38°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 10.7 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 81120?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Mar 21 and 55°F from Jun 1.

ZIP 81120 · Colorado · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 81120

40°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 38°F · high 45°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 10.7 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

2° warmer

38°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

39°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

Jun 1

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	38.5°F	37.7°F	38.9°F	analysis
Nov 5	37.4°F	36.8°F	38.2°F	analysis
Nov 6	36.9°F	35.9°F	39.0°F	analysis
Nov 7	38.5°F	37.3°F	41.4°F	analysis
Nov 8	39.3°F	37.5°F	42.1°F	analysis
Nov 9	39.3°F	37.3°F	43.3°F	analysis
Nov 10	39.8°F	37.9°F	43.6°F	analysis
Today	40.3°F	38.0°F	45.3°F	analysis
Nov 12	40.4°F	38.2°F	43.9°F	forecast
Nov 13	39.5°F	37.7°F	42.4°F	forecast
Nov 14	38.4°F	36.8°F	39.9°F	forecast
Nov 15	37.9°F	36.8°F	40.2°F	forecast
Nov 16	38.3°F	36.8°F	40.3°F	forecast
Nov 17	38.3°F	36.5°F	40.8°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 12
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	Mar 21
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	Jun 1
60°F	Tomatoes	Jun 10
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	not reached

This ZIP code area covers about 894 square miles; the reading is for the model grid cell nearest its Census centre point, which can be far from where you are. Try a neighbouring ZIP if it looks off.

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

81140 40°F · 81124 43°F · 81128 40°F · 81129 43°F · 81148 43°F · 81141 43°F · 87520 42°F · 81144 42°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 81120 today?: About 40°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 38°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 10.7 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 81120?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Mar 21 and 55°F from Jun 1.

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).