The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Nebraska is 74°F. Readings range from 70°F to 75°F, from 5 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Nebraska is right at the seasonal normal of 74°F for mid-August, based on 5 of 5 stations with historical records. Nebraska spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 6a, cool-season grass country. Last updated August 16, 2026.
Summer conditions across Nebraska with soil averaging 74°F at 2 inches. Warm-season grasses are in peak growth; keep cool-season lawns mowed high and watered deep. The next application windows arrive in fall, starting with pre-emergent as soil falls back through 70°F.
For cool-season lawns (fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass), fall is the best time to plant grass seed in Nebraska, with spring the second choice: fall seedlings face less weed competition and mature before summer heat. The window opens as 2-inch soil falls back through 70°F, and germination slows sharply once soil drops below 50°F, typically around October 26.
Spring is the second choice: the window opens when soil first holds 50°F and narrows as soil passes 65°F, typically by May 30.
| Region | Typical spring window opens | Typical fall window opens | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Nebraska | April 11 | September 10 | 2 |
| Central Nebraska | April 12 | September 6 | 2 |
| Western Nebraska | April 11 | September 5 | 2 |
Fall seeding also needs a stop date: new seedlings want about six weeks of growth before frost arrives. Your city page estimates the last safe seeding date from its nearest station: see when to plant in Omaha, when to plant in Lincoln or when to plant in Kearney. Readings current through August 16, 2026: Nebraska averages 74°F at 2 inches right now; the Current Planting Conditions section above reads that number against the season.
Typical dates are computed from historical 2-inch soil temperature averages at 6 monitoring stations in Nebraska; your own window depends on your nearest station's readings.
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for Nebraska: the median across 6 in-state stations with multi-year records. Any given year runs ahead of or behind these values; the live average at the top of this page shows where this year stands.
| Month | Average 2-inch soil temperature |
|---|---|
| January | 31°F |
| February | 32°F |
| March | 40°F |
| April | 51°F |
| May | 62°F |
| June | 72°F |
| July | 76°F |
| August | 75°F |
| September | 68°F |
| October | 55°F |
| November | 42°F |
| December | 34°F |
Grass seed germination
Grass seed germination temperatures across Nebraska. Soil warmth varies by location, so check a city page for the live reading and what germinates there now.
| Grass species | Seeding soil temp (2 in) | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bluegrass | 50–65°F | 14-30 |
| Tall fescue | 50–65°F | 7-12 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 50–65°F | 5-10 |
| Fine fescue | 50–65°F | 7-14 |
| Bermudagrass | 75–90°F | 10-30 |
For root-zone timing (fertilizer, aeration, weed control), see the 4-inch soil temperature for Nebraska. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for Nebraska. For how wet the ground is versus normal, see soil moisture for Nebraska. See the Nebraska soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Rogers Farm #1 (Lancaster) | 73°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Johnson Farm (Chase) | 74°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Harrison 20 SSE | 70°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Whitman 5 ENE | 75°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Lincoln 8 ENE | — | 2026-08-16 |
| Lincoln 11 SW | 75°F | 2026-08-16 |
Current 2-inch readings grouped along Nebraska's east-to-west axis. Regional spread matters for timing: the warm end of the state can open an application window a week or more before the cool end.
| Region | Avg 2" Temp | Range | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Nebraska (Lancaster County) | 74°F | 73–75°F | 2 |
| Central Nebraska (Chase County) | 73°F | 70–75°F | 3 |
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue | 68005 | 73°F |
| Blair | 68008 | 73°F |
| Columbus | 68601 | 75°F |
| Fremont | 68025 | 73°F |
| Grand Island | 68801 | 80°F* |
| Hastings | 68901 | 77°F |
| Kearney | 68845 | 77°F |
| Lincoln | 68501 | 75°F |
| Norfolk | 68701 | 81°F* |
| North Platte | 69101 | 74°F |
| Omaha | 68101 | 73°F |
| Oshkosh | 69154 | 75°F |
| Papillion | 68046 | 73°F |
| Scottsbluff | 69361 | 76°F |
| Sidney | 69160 | 78°F* |
Modeled estimate where no monitoring station is within 75 miles; all other readings are measured at USDA and NOAA stations.
Fall is the best time to overseed a thin lawn.
Core aeration relieves compaction, but timing decides whether the lawn recovers in a week or struggles for a month.
Brown patch and Pythium strike when humid nights hold above 68°F on lush, over-fertilized turf; dollar spot, red thread, and rust hit slow-growing lawns at 60-85°F.
Check whether your soil is warm enough for the seed you bought: cool-season grass seeds into 50-65°F soil (tall fescue prefers 60°F and up), warm-season into 75-85°F.
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Nebraska is 74°F. Readings range from 70°F to 75°F depending on location and elevation, from 5 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Nebraska is right at the seasonal normal of 74°F for mid-August, based on 5 of 5 stations with historical records.
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across Nebraska, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
Nebraska spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 6a, cool-season grass country. For cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass), the fall window typically opens around September 6 and the spring window around April 11, based on historical 2-inch soil temperature averages at 6 in-state stations. Timing varies by location, so check your city's planting window for the dates specific to your area.