What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 81321 today?

About 50°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 44°F and high 58°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 7.1 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 81321?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Mar 12 and 55°F from Mar 20.

ZIP 81321 · Cortez, CO · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 81321

50°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 44°F · high 58°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 7.1 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

2° warmer

49°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

50°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

Mar 20

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	48.6°F	44.0°F	54.2°F	analysis
Nov 5	47.8°F	42.6°F	54.2°F	analysis
Nov 6	50.5°F	46.3°F	56.7°F	analysis
Nov 7	50.2°F	44.9°F	57.1°F	analysis
Nov 8	50.3°F	44.7°F	57.4°F	analysis
Nov 9	50.0°F	44.3°F	57.1°F	analysis
Nov 10	49.8°F	44.4°F	56.3°F	analysis
Today	50.1°F	44.5°F	57.7°F	analysis
Nov 12	50.5°F	44.9°F	57.5°F	forecast
Nov 13	49.3°F	44.5°F	54.5°F	forecast
Nov 14	47.6°F	46.5°F	48.9°F	forecast
Nov 15	47.0°F	43.4°F	52.9°F	forecast
Nov 16	47.8°F	43.1°F	53.8°F	forecast
Nov 17	48.3°F	43.5°F	54.6°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	Feb 4
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	Mar 12
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	Mar 20
60°F	Tomatoes	Mar 21
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	May 11

Durango, CO, 76 km away: the full city page, with the 2026 season chart, growing degree days and nearby cities →

This ZIP code area covers about 420 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.

81331 51°F · 81334 46°F · 81327 45°F · 81330 46°F · 81335 45°F · 81328 45°F · 81324 46°F · 81320 45°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 81321 today?: About 50°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 44°F and high 58°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 7.1 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 81321?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Mar 12 and 55°F from Mar 20.

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).