Soil Temperature in Salt Lake City, UT

Current soil temperature: 77°F at the 2-inch depth, 3.9°F above the historical average for this date. Measured June 13, 2026 at the Grantsville SCAN station, 22 miles away. Rising 3.5°F over the last 7 days.

SOIL TEMPERATURE · 2" DEPTH · JUNE 13, 2026

3.9 degrees above historical average of 73 degrees Fahrenheit Rising 3.5°F over 7 days

2-inch depth (5 cm)

SCAN Station #2152 , 22 miles W (Grantsville)

Confidence:High

Last reading: June 13, 2026

Advanced options (year, as-of date)

Recommendations

Planning the year

See Salt Lake City schedule

Weed Prevention

WATCH

Spring pre-emergent timing may be moving past the ideal band

Shallow soil temperatures are already above the typical action band. Review conditions carefully and use the explanation details to decide whether the timing still fits your lawn. Temperatures are warming.

What to watch for

Soil has warmed past the action band, so this window has passed for the season. A late application loses most of its effectiveness. The next timing window will appear here as it approaches.

Read our full weed prevention guide

Details for Spring pre-emergent timing may be moving past the ideal band
Target depth	2" soil temperature
Typical action band	50°F to 55°F
Recent conditions	3-day average at 2" is 74.2°F
Confidence	High confidence based on direct observed soil temperatures.

Additional detail

Recent trend: Warming over the recent evaluation window.
Source context: USDA NWCC AWDB soil temperature data
Checked on: 2026-06-15

Source: USDA NWCC AWDB soil temperature data

Daily Soil Temperature

Depth: 2" • Last 12 Months

Showing chart

Nearest USDA Station

Grantsville (Site 2152), UT

Distance: 22 miles from Salt Lake City, UT
Elevation: 4337 ft
Coordinates: 40.5909, -112.3926

USDA NWCC AWDB soil temperature observations.

The 2-inch reading first crossed 50°F on Oct 22, when the pre-emergent window opened.
Date	2" °F	Δ 2"	4" °F	8" °F	20" °F	40" °F
Jun 13	76.5	+1.8	76.5	75.0	67.3	63.1
Jun 12	74.7	+3.3	75.6	74.3	67.1	63.0
Jun 11	71.4	-3.3	73.9	73.9	67.1	63.0
Jun 10	74.7	+0.4	75.6	74.3	67.1	62.6
Jun 9	74.3	-1.6	75.6	74.3	66.7	62.2
Jun 8	75.9	+2.9	74.7	73.0	66.7	62.1
Jun 7	73.0	—	75.0	74.3	66.7	61.7

Check the current soil temp at your location, or open the live US soil temperature mapto see today’s ground readings from 380+ USDA and NOAA stations across the country. Enter your ZIP code for live soil temperatures near you, plus planting windows, pre-emergent timing, fertilizer guidance, and disease watch alerts based on your nearest USDA monitoring station.

How Soil Temperature Drives Lawn Timing

About the Data

Readings refresh nightly from the USDA-NRCS Soil Climate Analysis Network and the NOAA US Climate Reference Network (USCRN). Readings are measured by in-ground sensors at federal monitoring stations, not estimated from weather models; see how we measure. Planting windows are derived from multi-year climatology overlaid with NOAA 1991–2020 frost normals. Recommendation cards evaluate current soil conditions against research-backed thresholds from university extension sources. Check back regularly as conditions change. The guidance updates with every new reading.

Data sources: USDA-NRCS SCAN network, NOAA USCRN, NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, and localized frost climatology via Soil Temps analytics.

Browse soil temperature data by state, over 2,000 cities with current readings, hardiness zones, and planting windows.

Explore the US Soil Temperature Map for a live station view of readings across the country.

Soil Conditions in Salt Lake City, UT

USDA Growing Zone

Zone 7B

Average First Frost

October 22

Elevation

4,337 ft

Cool-Season Viability

Cool-season core

Ideal conditions for cool-season grass. As of June 15, the 2-inch soil temperature is running 4°F above the 10-year normal for this date. The fall seeding window opens around August 13, roughly 59 days out. With an average first frost of October 22 and an elevation of 4,337 feet, your fall seeding window timing is shaped by both soil temperature trends and frost risk. Zone 7b sits in the tall-fescue transition belt where both cool- and warm-season grasses have to be timed carefully. Data comes from the USDA SCAN station at Grantsville, 22 mi away.

When to apply pre-emergent herbicide →

View historical soil temperature data →

Soil Temperature FAQ

What soil temperature is needed to plant grass seed?

Cool-season grasses like fescue and bluegrass germinate best when soil at 2 inches stays between 50–65°F for several consecutive days. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia need soil temperatures of 65–70°F or higher before seeding.

How deep should I measure soil temperature?

Measure at 2 inches for germination decisions — that is where seeds sit. For established lawn health, 4-inch readings indicate root-zone conditions and help time fertilizer, aeration, and disease prevention.

What’s the difference between soil temperature and air temperature?

Soil changes temperature much more slowly than air due to thermal mass. A warm afternoon does not mean the ground is warm. Soil temperature lags air temperature by days or weeks, making it a more reliable indicator of when biological processes like germination actually begin.

When should I apply pre-emergent based on soil temperature?

Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. This is the threshold where crabgrass and other summer annual weeds begin germinating. Applying after this point reduces effectiveness significantly.

What is a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone?

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones divide the US into 13 zones based on average annual extreme minimum temperature. They help determine which plants and grasses can survive winter in your area. Zone numbers increase from coldest (1a) to warmest (13b).

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