What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 98856 today?

About 40°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 39°F and high 43°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 10.4 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.

Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 98856?

The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 3 and 55°F from Jun 15.

ZIP 98856 · Washington · Nov 11, 2026

Soil temperature for ZIP code 98856

40°Faverage today, 0–4 in deep (modelled)
low 39°F · high 43°F

Modelled by NOAA GFS, not measured · run Nov 11, 12:00 UTC (7 am Eastern) · grid cell 10.4 km from the ZIP centre point

On a week ago

3° warmer

37°F on Nov 4

5-day mean

38°F

what the verdicts use

Held 55°F last spring

Jun 15

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	37.4°F	35.4°F	40.8°F	analysis
Nov 5	38.9°F	37.5°F	42.4°F	analysis
Nov 6	37.5°F	36.8°F	39.1°F	analysis
Nov 7	37.3°F	36.1°F	39.7°F	analysis
Nov 8	39.3°F	38.2°F	41.2°F	analysis
Nov 9	37.3°F	36.1°F	39.1°F	analysis
Nov 10	38.3°F	37.7°F	39.2°F	analysis
Today	40.3°F	38.8°F	43.2°F	analysis
Nov 12	40.5°F	39.3°F	42.4°F	forecast
Nov 13	39.8°F	38.2°F	42.7°F	forecast
Nov 14	41.1°F	40.6°F	41.7°F	forecast
Nov 15	38.0°F	37.3°F	39.5°F	forecast
Nov 16	36.8°F	36.3°F	37.2°F	forecast
Nov 17	35.6°F	34.8°F	36.6°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	Apr 6
50°F	Pre-emergent window opens	May 3
55°F	Crabgrass can germinate	Jun 15
60°F	Tomatoes	Jun 17
65°F	Warm-season grass seed	not reached

This ZIP code area covers about 444 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.

98814 40°F · 98862 41°F · 98834 43°F · 98852 35°F · 98816 41°F · 98829 45°F · 98812 45°F · 98819 44°F

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

Questions

What is the soil temperature in ZIP code 98856 today?: About 40°F on average in the top 4 inches (0–10 cm), low 39°F and high 43°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 10.4 km from the ZIP centre, not a reading from your yard.
Is it time for crabgrass preventer in 98856?: The spring window is closed. It opens again when the soil holds 50°F. Last spring the soil held 50°F from May 3 and 55°F from Jun 15.

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).