LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
WEATHER AND CLIMATE FACTS

Data: 1887 to present
Normal refers to the standard 30-year period, 1971-2000
Normals will be recalculated for the 1981-2010 period in 2011.

TEMPERATURE NORMALS:
Average temperature for the entire year 51.1 F
July, Average high and low 89.6 F and 69.5 F
January, Average high and low 33.2 F and 11.5 F
Average length of freeze-free period 161 days
Average date of last spring freeze April 27
Average date first fall freeze October 5
Average number of days falling to or below  0 F 16 days
Average number of days falling to or below  32 F 144 days
Average date for first 90 F or higher May 17
Average number of days 90 F or higher 42 days
Average number of days 100 F or higher 5 days
TEMPERATURE RECORDS
Record High Temperature 115 F, July 25, 1936
Record Low Temperature -33 F, January 12, 1974
Hottest Year (average of highs and lows) 55.7 F, 1931, 1934
Coldest Year (average of highs and lows) 47.8 F, 1978
Most annual # of Days, High 90 F or higher 82 F, 1936
Least annual # Days, High 90 F or higher 7 days, 1889
Most annual # of Days, High 100 F or higher 41 days, 1936
Least annual # Days, High 100 F or higher 0 days, 22 separate years since 1887
Longest stretch, continuous days 90 F or above 38 days, July 8-Aug 14, 1934
Longest stretch, continuous days 100 F or above 15 days, July 11-25, 1934
Hottest overnight low temperature 91 F, July 25, 1936
Hottest daily average temperature 103 F, July 25, 1936 (High 115 F, low 91 F)
Most annual # of Days, Low 32 F or lower 156 days, 1943, 1951, 1996
Most annual # of Days, Low 0 F or lower 35 days, 1977 and 1978
Longest time below zero (continuous hours) 188 hours, 5PM Dec 12-1 PM Dec 25, 1983
Coldest daytime high temperature -16 F, January 14, 1888
Coldest daily average temperature -20 F, Feb. 11, 1899 (High -13 F, low -26F)
Latest Spring freeze May 29, 1947
Earliest last Spring freeze March 27, 1925
Earliest first Fall freeze September 11, 1940
Latest first Fall freeze November 7, 1956
Shortest freeze-free period 118 days, 1940
Longest freeze-free period 218 days, April 2-Nov. 6, 1924
PRECIPITATION NORMALS
Average Annual precipitation 28.37 inches
Average wettest month May, 4.23 inches
Average driest month January, 0.67 inches
Average annual snowfall 27.5 inches
Average snowiest month January, 6.1 inches
Average number of days with measurable precipitation 92 days
PRECIPITATION SNOWFALL RECORDS
Greatest monthly snowfall February 1965, 26.1 inches
Snowiest winter season 59.4 inches, winter 1914-15
Snowiest calendar year  65.2 inches, 1948
Least snowy calendar year  5.3 inches, 1954
Least snowy winter season 7.2 inches, 1967-1968
January 1, 1900-December 31, 2004 Snowfall total 2810.7 inches (234+ feet)
Latest first measurable snowfall December 27, 1982
Earliest first measurable snowfall September 29, 1985
Latest measurable snowfall May 3-4, 1967, 3.0 inches
Heaviest 24-hour snowfall 19 inches, Feb. 11, 1965
PRECIPITATION RECORDS ALL TYPES
Longest dry spell (days in a row without precipitation) 63 Days, Nov. 2, 1889-Jan. 3, 1890
Longest wet spell (days in a row with precipitation) 12 Days, Apr. 29-May. 10, 1995
Wettest Year 45.15 inches, 1965
Driest Year 14.09 inches, 1936
Wettest Summer June 21-Sept. 21, 1993, 21.75 inches
Wettest Month 13.98 inches, August 1910
Most annual number of days with measurable precipitation 121 days, 1965
Least annual number of days with measurable precipitation 53 days, 1955
Heaviest 24-hour rainfall 8.38 inches, Aug. 28-29, 1910
SUN AND WIND
Average number of sunny days  230 days
Average wind speed 10.4 mph
Windiest month April, average 12.1 mph
Least Windy month August, average 9.2 mph

compiled by Ken Dewey, High Plains Regional Climate Center
School of Natural Resources, UNL


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