The Climate of Nebraska

According to Abbreviation Finder, Nebraska (NE) is one of the most centrally located states in the United States. Nebraska is located in the Great Plains, an elongated area of ​​grassy plains, prairies and steppe. The state gets its name from the Native American name for the Platte, a river that rises in Nebraska. A striking detail of Nebraska is that the state lies within two time zones.

Nebraska has a warm continental climate, indicated by the letters Dfa according to the Köppen climate system. The fact that it is a warm continental climate is caused by three months in which the average daily temperature is above eighteen degrees Celsius. The summers are indeed warm and mostly sunny, the winter months can sometimes bring severe to very severe frost. With an average minimum temperature of minus five to minus fourteen degrees, the period from December to February can be called cold. Outliers towards minus thirty degrees are even possible, because nature has free rein here. Nebraska can experience snow storms in the winter and tornadoes for much of the year. In winter there is an average of fifty to eighty centimeters of snow.

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

The climate of Grand Island

Grand Island is a medium-sized city in the central part of the US state of Nebraska, located in Hall County. The city was founded in the mid-19th century by German settlers. And thanks to the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad, the city has grown to its current size. Grand Island lives mainly from agriculture. The first sugar beets were grown in this part of Nebraska.

Grand Island has a warm continental climate, characterized by its cold winter months and warm to hot summer months. Winters are long here and long periods of (night) frost can occur. Temperatures of 20 degrees below freezing and more are certainly no exception. Because Grand Island is located in Tornado Alley, you have to take this into account during tornado season.

The climate of Kearney

According to Countryaah, Kearney is a small city in the south central part of the state of Nebraska, in Buffalo County. Kearney is located on the north bank of the Platte and originated in the 19th century as a town on the Oregon Trail. During this period the town was still called Dobeytown, but was later moved and named after Fort Kearny. The city is home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The Museum of Nebraska Art is also located in Kearney.

Despite the many cold days and nights, Kearney has a warm continental climate. The winter months are long and long periods of (night) frost can occur. Summers are warm and wet, and very hot at times. The mercury can reach 40 degrees Celsius during the hottest summer days. Most precipitation falls during this period.

The climate of Lincoln

Lincoln is the capital of the central US state of Nebraska. It is not the largest city in Nebraska, which is the former capital of Omaha. Lincoln was formerly called Lancaster, but was renamed Lincoln on March 1, 1867. The naming after the then president happened on the day that Nebraska became a state of the US.

Lincoln has a warm continental climate, with cool winters and warm summers on average. Lincoln has a four-season climate, with each season lasting about three months. Summer often lasts a little longer, about three and a half to four months, at the expense of spring and autumn. Winters are cool, with the mercury dropping significantly, especially at night. During the day, frost is much less common. On an annual basis, Lincoln has an average of 2760 hours of sunshine, 735 millimeters of precipitation and 68 centimeters of snow.

The climate of North Platte

North Platte is a small city in western Nebraska, Lincoln County. North Platte is where the North Platte and South Platte meet. The city is a real railway city, but only freight trains pass through the city. Near the city is one of the largest shunting yards in the world, Bailey Yard. From the Golden Spike Tower you can overlook the entire shunting yard.

North Platte has a warm steppe climate, mainly due to the low rainfall that falls on an annual basis. Winters are icy cold and long periods of frost can occur. The low annual precipitation falls mainly in the early summer months. During the winter months, the precipitation will mainly come down as snow and sleet. North Platte is located in Tornado Alley.

The climate of Omaha

Omaha is the largest city in the US state of Nebraska. Omaha is located in Douglas County, on the Missouri River, which forms the border with Iowa. The city was founded in the mid-19th century and quickly grew into a prosperous city, especially due to its location on several railway lines. Today, the city has more than 400,000 inhabitants and more than 1 million inhabitants live in the metropolitan area of ​​the city. In the city is the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. This zoo is considered one of the most important zoos worldwide. You will find the largest indoor desert in the world, the largest indoor rainforest and the largest indoor swamp.

Omaha has a warm continental climate, with a cold winter period and a warm to hot summer period. The spring months are generally the wettest of the year. In the winter months, the precipitation will mainly come down as snow and sleet. Long periods of frost can occur during the winter period. Omaha is located in Tornado Alley, so keep this in mind during tornado season.