What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 81657 today?

About 36°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 34°F and high 40°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 12.9 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 81657?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Jun 5 and 55°F from Jun 20.

ZIP 81657 · Vail, CO · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 81657

36°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 34°F · high 40°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 12.9 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

2° warmer

34°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

37°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

Jun 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 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	34.1°F	32.5°F	35.9°F	analysis
Nov 5	34.7°F	31.6°F	39.1°F	analysis
Nov 6	35.4°F	34.3°F	36.4°F	analysis
Nov 7	35.3°F	32.8°F	38.1°F	analysis
Nov 8	35.9°F	33.6°F	40.2°F	analysis
Nov 9	38.2°F	34.1°F	43.6°F	analysis
Nov 10	38.1°F	36.6°F	40.4°F	analysis
Today	36.0°F	33.5°F	39.9°F	analysis
Nov 12	36.5°F	32.8°F	41.9°F	forecast
Nov 13	36.6°F	33.4°F	40.4°F	forecast
Nov 14	35.4°F	32.7°F	38.3°F	forecast
Nov 15	35.3°F	32.4°F	38.9°F	forecast
Nov 16	34.6°F	31.4°F	39.4°F	forecast
Nov 17	35.4°F	31.8°F	40.1°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 22
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	Jun 5
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	Jun 20
60°F	Tomatoes	not reached
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	not reached

Nearby ZIP codes

Today's modelled average.

80498 36°F · 81620 35°F · 81649 34°F · 80443 34°F · 81632 35°F · 81645 35°F · 80423 38°F · 81655 40°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 81657 today?: About 36°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 34°F and high 40°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 12.9 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 81657?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from Jun 5 and 55°F from Jun 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).