Best days to spray weeds in Modesto, CA this week
Here's the next 7 days for spraying weeds in Modesto, checked hour by hour against the published thresholds. Below it: what Modesto's 1991–2020 climate averages say about the months that usually work.
This week in Modesto
Asking the sky…
Fairsky is not a substitute for official warnings. For warnings, go to weather.gov. Verdicts are guidance, not guarantees. Your product's label always wins.
When spraying weeds usually works in Modesto
- On 1991–2020 averages, Modesto's normal highs fall inside Fairsky's 45–85°F spray band in October–May.
- June–September average highs above 85°F, when some weed killers (2,4-D, dicamba) vaporize and drift more easily; spray in the cooler morning hours.
- February is the rainiest of the spray months, averaging 5.7 days with 0.10" or more; Fairsky wants 4 rain-free hours after spraying.
- Averages can't tell you about wind, and wind decides most spray days (3–10 mph is the target), so lean on the live verdict.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Days ≥0.10" rain | Highs 45–85°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 56° | 39° | 5.6 | Yes |
| February | 62° | 42° | 5.7 | Yes |
| March | 68° | 45° | 4.7 | Yes |
| April | 74° | 48° | 2.5 | Yes |
| May | 82° | 54° | 1.7 | Yes |
| June | 90° | 59° | 0.4 | – |
| July | 95° | 63° | 0.0 | – |
| August | 94° | 62° | 0.1 | – |
| September | 89° | 59° | 0.3 | – |
| October | 79° | 52° | 1.1 | Yes |
| November | 66° | 43° | 2.7 | Yes |
| December | 56° | 39° | 5.5 | Yes |
Station: Modesto City Co. Airport (NOAA NCEI USW00023258), about 4 km from central Modesto. “Rain days” count days with 0.10" or more of precipitation. “Highs 45–85°F” checks the monthly averages only; any given week can be warmer, colder or wetter.
The rules we check
- Needs 2 hours in a row of daylight.
- Air at least 45°F.
- No hotter than 85°F (86–90°F is borderline).
- Wind between 3 and 10 mph (calmer air can mean a temperature inversion that carries drift).
- Gusts at or under 15 mph. (Fairsky default: no source gave a number)
- Rain chance at or below 20%. (Fairsky default: no source gave a number)
- No rain for 4 hours after you finish.
Your product's label always wins. Labels differ by product; in the app you can enter your label's temperature range and rain-free hours, and the verdict uses them instead.
Sources: NC State Extension: spray drift and wind speed · UNL CropWatch: avoiding herbicide drift · UNL CropWatch: managing applications to avoid drift · Rutgers: herbicide drift and temperature · Roundup concentrate label (rainfast time)
More home and yard jobs in Modesto
- Stain a deckDeck and fence stain: 50–90°F, dry wood, 24 rain-free hours after.
- Paint a house exteriorExterior latex paint: 40°F and up, 5°F above the dew point, 4 dry hours after.
- Pour concreteConcrete: 40–85°F, no rain for 24 hours, no freezing for 48.
- Apply pre-emergentCrabgrass pre-emergent: before soil holds 55°F (about 200 GDD), then water it in.
- Plant grass seedCool-season grass seed: soil about 50–65°F, highs 60–80°F, no washout rain.
- Seal a drivewayAsphalt sealcoat: 55°F and rising, 50°F overnight, 36 rain-free hours.
- Cover plants for frostFrost watch: cover at 34°F, or 36°F on clear, calm nights; 28°F is a hard freeze.
The app covers 47 activities in all, from mowing to a round of golf: see every activity and its rules.
Spray weeds in nearby cities
- Stockton, CA27 miles away
- San Jose, CA53 miles away
- Sacramento, CA71 miles away
- San Francisco, CA78 miles away
- Fresno, CA91 miles away
- Bakersfield, CA191 miles away
All spray weeds cities: Spray weeds, by city · Home and yard in California
Questions
What's the best month to spray weeds in Modesto?
On 1991–2020 averages, October usually fits best in Modesto. Any given week can still be wrong for it, which is what the live verdict above is for.
How is this verdict made?
We take the National Weather Service hourly forecast for Modesto and check each hour against the thresholds listed above. The result is guidance, not a guarantee; your product's label always wins.
Is it too windy to spray weeds in Modesto today?
Look for steady winds of about 3–10 mph with low gusts and no rain for a few hours after. The hourly verdict above shows when Modesto gets there.
Fairsky is not a substitute for official warnings. For warnings, go to weather.gov.
Live forecasts: National Weather Service / NOAA (public domain), fetched by your browser. Climate averages: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 (public domain). Activity thresholds: product data sheets, ACI and university extension guidance, linked on each page; your product’s label wins.