The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Nevada is 78°F. Readings range from 66°F to 117°F, from 11 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Nevada is running 4°F above the seasonal normal of 74°F for mid-August, based on 11 of 11 stations with historical records. Nevada spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 10a, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. Last updated August 16, 2026.
Summer conditions across Nevada with soil averaging 78°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.
Nevada spans both grass families: cool-season lawns are more common toward the cooler, northern parts of the state and at elevation, warm-season lawns toward the warmer south.
For cool-season lawns (fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass), fall is the best time to plant grass seed in Nevada, 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 12.
Spring is the second choice: the window opens when soil first holds 50°F and narrows as soil passes 65°F, typically by June 5.
For warm-season lawns (bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine), the best time to plant grass seed in Nevada is late spring into early summer, when soil is warming and a full growing season lies ahead. The window opens when 2-inch soil reaches 65°F and keeps rising, and closes as soil cools back through 65°F, typically around August 26.
| Region | Typical spring window opens | Typical fall window opens | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Nevada | May 11 | August 18 | 4 |
| Central Nevada | April 9 | September 16 | 4 |
| Southern Nevada | April 30 | July 18 | 3 |
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 Las Vegas, when to plant in Reno or when to plant in Henderson. Readings current through August 16, 2026: Nevada averages 78°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 11 monitoring stations in Nevada; your own window depends on your nearest station's readings.
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for Nevada: the median across 11 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 | 32°F |
| February | 34°F |
| March | 38°F |
| April | 47°F |
| May | 56°F |
| June | 67°F |
| July | 73°F |
| August | 68°F |
| September | 61°F |
| October | 51°F |
| November | 39°F |
| December | 35°F |
Grass seed germination
Grass seed germination temperatures across Nevada. 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 Nevada. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for Nevada. For how wet the ground is versus normal, see soil moisture for Nevada. See the Nevada soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Lovelock NNR (Pershing) | 77°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Kyle Canyon (Clark) | 72°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Trough Springs (Clark) | 117°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Pine Nut (Clark) | 74°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Charkiln (Clark) | 67°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Lovell Summit (Clark) | 66°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Buckhorn (Washoe) | 69°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Ruby (Elko) | 71°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Denio 52 WSW | 72°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Mercury 3 SSW | 98°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Baker 5 W | 76°F | 2026-08-16 |
Current 2-inch readings grouped along Nevada's north-to-south 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Nevada (Elko, Pershing, Washoe Counties) | 72°F | 69–77°F | 4 |
| Central Nevada (Clark County) | 91°F | 74–117°F | 4 |
| Southern Nevada (Clark County) | 68°F | 66–72°F | 3 |
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder City | 89005 | 66°F |
| Carson City | 89701 | 56°F |
| Coyote Springs | 89037 | 74°F |
| Elko | 89801 | 71°F |
| Ely | 89301 | 76°F |
| Fallon | 89406 | 77°F |
| Gardnerville | 89410 | 56°F |
| Henderson | 89002 | 66°F |
| Incline Village | 89450 | 75°F* |
| Indian Springs | 89018 | 117°F |
| Jean | 89019 | 84°F |
| Las Vegas | 89101 | 66°F |
| Laughlin | 89028 | 92°F |
| Mesquite | 89024 | 82°F |
| North Las Vegas | 89030 | 74°F |
| Pahrump | 89041 | 67°F |
| Reno | 89501 | 80°F* |
| Sparks | 89431 | 80°F* |
| The Lakes | 88901 | 74°F |
| Winnemucca | 89445 | 77°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.
Spring broadleaf timing for St.
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Nevada is 78°F. Readings range from 66°F to 117°F depending on location and elevation, from 11 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Nevada is running 4°F above the seasonal normal of 74°F for mid-August, based on 11 of 11 stations with historical records.
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across Nevada, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
Nevada spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 10a, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. For cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass), the fall window typically opens around August 1 and the spring window around April 20; for warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia), the window typically opens around June 5, based on historical 2-inch soil temperature averages at 11 in-state stations. Timing varies by location, so check your city's planting window for the dates specific to your area.