Lincoln, Nebraska Weather
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Lincoln weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Heavy Rain60%3.1″79°68°—
- FridayJun 5Thunderstorm72%—87°65°+8°
- SaturdayJun 6Thunderstorm72%—88°66°+1°
- SundayJun 7Heavy Drizzle56%0.08″77°67°-11°
- MondayJun 8Light Showers25%—89°65°+12°
- TuesdayJun 9Thunderstorm25%—95°69°+6°
- WednesdayJun 10Thunderstorm——99°77°+4°
PM2.5 at 9.0 µg/m³ (AQI 50) with a 0.96 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 33. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.
- Present
- AQI 33
- UV peak
- 3.3 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- overcast
- Projected peak
- AQI 7
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5 at 9.0 µg/m³ (AQI 50) with a 0.96 fine-to-coarse ratio and 3 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.96
- Wind
- calm
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- stagnant smoke
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 4:58 AM
- Moonset
- 2:27 PM
- In sign
- ♑︎ Capricorn
Fireflies pulse through the magnolias
Lincoln at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 6°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 21 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
SPC Convective Outlook
Storm Prediction Center — Lincoln
SPC has placed Lincoln in the Slight Risk category for severe thunderstorms tomorrow.
- TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
- TOMORROWSLGTSlight Risk
- DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
Scattered severe storms possible. A few tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind gusts possible.
Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Lincoln's warmest temperatures (~78°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~25°F). May sees peak rainfall at 4.9 inches, with January recording the lowest at 0.7 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| February | 30° | 0.9″ | 3 |
| March | 41° | 1.6″ | 4 |
| April | 52° | 2.7″ | 5 |
| May | 63° | 4.9″ | 8 |
| June | 74° | 4.5″ | 7 |
| July | 78° | 3.3″ | 6 |
| August | 76° | 3.3″ | 6 |
| September | 67° | 2.9″ | 5 |
| October | 54° | 2.1″ | 4 |
| November | 40° | 1.3″ | 2 |
| December | 29° | 1.2″ | 3 |
Regional context
Lincoln belongs to a humid subtropical climate region — sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with nearby cities in this zone.
Similar climates: Beatrice, NE, Crete, NE, Nebraska City, NE, Waverly, NE, Falls City, NE.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the peak blooming of eastern cottonwoods, their seeds creating white drifts across Lincoln's landscape.
American robins typically begin their second nesting cycle in early June as daylight reaches its longest stretch.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Lincoln?
- Lincoln's last spring frost typically occurs around mid-April, while the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Lincoln?
- May receives the most rainfall with about 4.9 inches on average; Lincoln gets roughly 29 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Lincoln?
- July typically brings the warmest weather, averaging about 78°F.
- What is the coldest month in Lincoln?
- January typically brings the coldest temperatures, averaging about 25°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Lincoln?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April; warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Lincoln get?
- Lincoln averages about 54 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Lincoln?
- Lincoln's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; the USDA's online lookup tool using the city ZIP code provides the current zone designation.
Climate
Lincoln, Nebraska experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures hover near 25°F while July averages 78°F — a 53°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Lincoln receives about 29 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 54 rainy days.
Several factors determine Lincoln's weather patterns: its latitude at 40.8°N, proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These elements influence what grows here, when frost occurs, and the daily weather patterns.