Lincoln, NE Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Lincoln
A 29°C spread between its warmest and coolest months puts Lincoln among the more strongly seasonal places we cover. July averages 87°F (31°C) by day; January averages 36°F (2°C), with nights at 19°F (-7°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: July - highs near 87°F (31°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 36°F (2°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 103°F (39°C) high · -28°F (-33°C) low
- Wettest month: May (14 rainy days) · Sunniest: June (13.0 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid continental
- Annual swing: 29°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Snow: about 12 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 2
- Average humidity: 64%
Temperatures through the year
January sits at the other end of the year: 36°F (2°C) by day, 19°F (-7°C) at night. July is the warm end of the year, averaging 87°F (31°C) by day and 69°F (21°C) overnight. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 103°F (39°C) and the lowest daily minimum -28°F (-33°C). Snow falls on roughly 12 days a year, mostly November through April.
Rain, sun and snow
Between the average July and the average January lie 29°C, a wider spread than 95% of the 3496 cities in our dataset. The wettest month is May (5.6 inches (142 mm) across 14 days) and the driest February. June is the brightest month at 13.0 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.5.
How Lincoln compares
- Lincoln sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 54°F (12°C) as an annual average, 31.2 inches (792 mm) of precipitation and 9.5 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 19° | 5 | 1.4 in | 6.6 h/day | 9.5 h | 17% | 68% |
| February | 40° | 20° | 5 | 0.9 in | 8.4 h/day | 10.6 h | 17% | 62% |
| March | 53° | 33° | 8 | 2.2 in | 8.3 h/day | 11.8 h | 27% | 61% |
| April | 63° | 42° | 9 | 2.4 in | 9.6 h/day | 13.2 h | 30% | 58% |
| May | 73° | 54° | 14 | 5.6 in | 10.1 h/day | 14.4 h | 45% | 66% |
| June | 86° | 66° | 12 | 4.6 in | 13.0 h/day | 15.1 h | 39% | 62% |
| July | 87° | 69° | 9 | 3.1 in | 12.8 h/day | 14.8 h | 29% | 68% |
| August | 85° | 67° | 9 | 3.0 in | 11.5 h/day | 13.8 h | 28% | 69% |
| September | 81° | 62° | 6 | 2.3 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.4 h | 22% | 63% |
| October | 65° | 47° | 6 | 2.4 in | 8.6 h/day | 11.0 h | 20% | 60% |
| November | 52° | 34° | 6 | 1.6 in | 7.3 h/day | 9.8 h | 18% | 64% |
| December | 41° | 24° | 5 | 1.6 in | 6.8 h/day | 9.3 h | 15% | 67% |
Lincoln month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Lincoln's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 6.6 h
- Daylight
- 9.5 h
- Snow
- 4 days
February
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.6 h
- Snow
- 3 days
March
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 8.3 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
April
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 13.2 h
May
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 10.1 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
June
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 13.0 h
- Daylight
- 15.1 h
July
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 12.8 h
- Daylight
- 14.8 h
August
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 11.5 h
- Daylight
- 13.8 h
September
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 8.6 h
- Daylight
- 11.0 h
November
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 7.3 h
- Daylight
- 9.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
December
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 6.8 h
- Daylight
- 9.3 h
- Snow
- 2 days
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Lincoln
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Lincoln is mild, with daytime highs averaging 63°F (17°C) and nights around 43°F (6°C); rain falls on around 32 of the 90 days, plus about 2 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Lincoln brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 86°F (30°C) and nights around 67°F (20°C); expect showers on roughly 29 days across the season. Daylight is generous - around 12.4 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall is mild here - highs near 66°F (19°C), nights near 48°F (9°C), and expect showers on roughly 18 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Lincoln is frigid, with daytime highs averaging 39°F (4°C) and nights around 21°F (-6°C); rain comes on about 15 days over the three months, plus about 9 snowy days. Wind sharpens cold like this considerably; pair the forecast winds with the wind speed converter to judge exposed conditions.
Climate questions, answered
Does it freeze in Lincoln?
How warm is Lincoln on average?
How cold does Lincoln get in winter?
How hot does Lincoln get in summer?
Best time to visit Lincoln
Aim for September to November and April if you get the choice: these are the warmest and brightest weeks of the year, and highs average 65°F (19°C) against roughly 7 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in September.
Pack for Lincoln with light clothing for the warm months, a heavy insulated coat, hat and gloves for winter and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Note the gap between afternoon and night: July pairs 87°F (31°C) with 69°F (21°C).
Lincoln temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.