Soil Temperature in North Carolina
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across North Carolina is 81°F, based on 4 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Readings range from 79°F to 82°F. Last updated July 2, 2026.
Current Planting Conditions
Summer conditions across North Carolina with soil averaging 81°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.
Grass Seed Germination in North Carolina
Grass seed germination
Grass seed germination temperatures across North Carolina. Soil warmth varies by location, so check a city page for the live reading and what germinates there now.
| Grass species | Germination optimum | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bluegrass | 59–86°F | 14-30 |
| Tall fescue | 68–86°F | 7-12 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 68–86°F | 5-10 |
| Fine fescue | 59–77°F | 7-14 |
| Bermudagrass | 75–85°F | 10-30 |
Monitoring Stations in North Carolina (4)
For root-zone timing (fertilizer, aeration, weed control), see the 4-inch soil temperature for North Carolina. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for North Carolina. See the North Carolina soil temperature map for the full station view.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Tidewater #1 (Washington) | 79°F | 2026-07-02 |
| Durham 11 W | 82°F | 2026-07-02 |
| Asheville 8 SSW | 82°F | 2026-07-02 |
| Asheville 13 S | 81°F | 2026-07-02 |
Cities in North Carolina (65)
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Albemarle | 28001 | 84°F* |
| Apex | 27502 | 82°F |
| Asheboro | 27203 | 82°F |
| Asheville | 28801 | 82°F |
| Boone | 28607 | 82°F |
| Burlington | 27215 | 82°F |
| Camp Lejeune | 28542 | 83°F* |
| Cary | 27511 | 82°F |
| Chapel Hill | 27514 | 82°F |
| Charlotte | 28201 | 85°F* |
| Clayton | 27520 | 82°F |
| Clinton | 28328 | 85°F* |
| Concord | 28025 | 84°F* |
| Creedmoor | 27522 | 82°F |
| Davidson | 28035 | 88°F* |
| Dunn | 28334 | 82°F |
| Durham | 27701 | 82°F |
| Eden | 27288 | 78°F |
| Elizabeth City | 27906 | 79°F |
| Fayetteville | 28301 | 82°F |
| Fort Bragg | 28307 | 82°F |
| Franklin | 28734 | 82°F |
| Gastonia | 28052 | 84°F* |
| Goldsboro | 27530 | 82°F |
| Greensboro | 27395 | 82°F |
| Greenville | 27833 | 79°F |
| Henderson | 27536 | 82°F |
| Hendersonville | 28739 | 81°F |
| Hickory | 28601 | 81°F |
| High Point | 27260 | 78°F |
| Huntersville | 28070 | 84°F* |
| Jacksonville | 28540 | 84°F* |
| Kannapolis | 28081 | 84°F* |
| Kernersville | 27284 | 78°F |
| Kinston | 28501 | 79°F |
| Laurinburg | 28352 | 84°F |
| Lenoir | 28633 | 81°F |
| Lexington | 27292 | 78°F |
| Lincolnton | 28092 | 84°F* |
| Lumberton | 28358 | 84°F |
| Matthews | 28104 | 85°F* |
| Monroe | 28110 | 84°F |
| Mooresville | 28115 | 87°F* |
| Morganton | 28655 | 81°F |
| New Bern | 28560 | 79°F |
| North Wilkesboro | 28656 | 78°F |
| Pinehurst | 28370 | 82°F |
| Raleigh | 27601 | 82°F |
| Reidsville | 27320 | 78°F |
| Rockingham | 28379 | 84°F |
| Rocky Mount | 27801 | 79°F |
| Roxboro | 27573 | 82°F |
| Rural Hall | 27045 | 78°F |
| Salisbury | 28144 | 78°F |
| Sanford | 27330 | 82°F |
| Shallotte | 28459 | 84°F* |
| Shelby | 28150 | 81°F |
| Southern Pines | 28387 | 82°F |
| Statesville | 28625 | 78°F |
| Thomasville | 27360 | 78°F |
| Wake Forest | 27587 | 82°F |
| Waynesville | 28785 | 82°F |
| Wilmington | 28401 | 83°F* |
| Wilson | 27893 | 82°F |
| Winston Salem | 27101 | 78°F |
Modeled estimate from Open-Meteo where no monitoring station is within 75 miles; all other readings are measured at USDA and NOAA stations.
Lawn Care Timing Guides for North Carolina
- When to Apply Broadleaf Weed Killer on Cool-Season Lawns in Spring
Spring broadleaf timing for Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, perennial ryegrass, and the cool-season blends.
- How to Identify and Kill Nutsedge in Your Lawn
Nutsedge is a sedge, not a grass, which is why standard weed control fails.
- How to Apply Liquid Pre-Emergent Herbicide
Learn how to mix, calibrate, and spray liquid pre-emergent herbicide.
- When to Apply Broadleaf Weed Killer on Warm-Season Lawns in Spring
Spring broadleaf timing for St.
Soil Temperature FAQ for North Carolina
What is the current soil temperature in North Carolina?
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across North Carolina is 81°F, based on 4 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Readings range from 79°F to 82°F depending on location and elevation.
When should I apply pre-emergent in North Carolina?
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across North Carolina, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
When can I plant grass seed in North Carolina?
Cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass) can be seeded when soil holds between 50 and 65°F. Warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia) need soil above 65°F. Timing varies by location, so check your city's planting window for the dates specific to your area.