What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 81401 today?

About 45°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 41°F and high 51°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 2.2 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 81401?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Mar 20 and 55°F from Mar 21.

ZIP 81401 · Montrose, CO · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 81401

45°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 41°F · high 51°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 2.2 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

1° warmer

44°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

45°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

Mar 21

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	43.8°F	40.2°F	47.8°F	analysis
Nov 5	45.2°F	41.8°F	50.1°F	analysis
Nov 6	45.4°F	42.0°F	49.6°F	analysis
Nov 7	44.5°F	40.2°F	49.8°F	analysis
Nov 8	44.8°F	40.0°F	50.8°F	analysis
Nov 9	45.4°F	40.7°F	51.2°F	analysis
Nov 10	45.4°F	41.1°F	50.6°F	analysis
Today	45.1°F	40.6°F	50.8°F	analysis
Nov 12	45.2°F	40.6°F	51.2°F	forecast
Nov 13	44.9°F	40.8°F	49.6°F	forecast
Nov 14	43.5°F	40.9°F	45.2°F	forecast
Nov 15	43.8°F	40.9°F	48.0°F	forecast
Nov 16	43.0°F	38.8°F	48.4°F	forecast
Nov 17	43.8°F	39.3°F	49.7°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 27
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	Mar 20
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	Mar 21
60°F	Tomatoes	May 28
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	Jun 5

Montrose, CO, 10 km away: the full city page, with the 2026 season chart, growing degree days and nearby cities →

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

81415 47°F · 81403 41°F · 81425 46°F · 81220 39°F · 81410 48°F · 81419 40°F · 81432 42°F · 81416 47°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 81401 today?: About 45°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 41°F and high 51°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 2.2 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 81401?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Mar 20 and 55°F from Mar 21.

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).