Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Lincoln, Nebraska Weather

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Lincoln weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Lincoln, NE
Saturday, July 4 at 1:54 PM
78
°
Overcast
Feels like
88°
Humidity
74%
Wind
2 mph
Sunrise
1:00 AM
Sunset
4:01 PM
Lincoln, NE
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastLincoln, NE: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 67 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 67°H 87°
Lincoln, NE
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Heavy Rain
    50%
    0.43″
    87°67°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    93°67°+6°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Clear
    —
    —
    89°67°-4°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    92°69°+3°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Drizzle
    40%
    —
    96°71°+4°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Showers
    46%
    0.28″
    88°69°-8°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Heavy Drizzle
    13%
    0.02″
    84°64°-4°
Lincoln, NE
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°62°77°92°12p6p12a6anow 75°high 87°low 67°PRECIP %
Lincoln, NE
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
236° · veering 56°
Direction
SW
236°
Sustained
2
mph
Gust
8
mph
Peak 24h
22
avg 7
Beaufort · 1 · LIGHT AIR
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 7 · pk 22 @ 8:00a
010MPHB1B2B3B4-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 126SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 56° from the sw.
Lincoln, NE
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
972.4
-0.5 mb in 3h · steady · 28.71 inHg
Now
972.4
mb
3h
-0.5
mb
12h
+3.7
mb
24h
+3.9
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 969–974
960965970975980-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW974.3968.9973.8
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Lincoln, NE
Air quality
38
AQI
Good
→+1 in 6h

AQI 38 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 10.3 µg/m³ (AQI 53) with a 0.73 fine-to-coarse ratio and 2 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
10.3μg/m³
PM 10Good
14μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneModerate
85μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
4.0

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 40. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~97%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 40
UV peak
4.0 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 11

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 10.3 µg/m³ (AQI 53) with a 0.73 fine-to-coarse ratio and 2 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.73
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).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Lincoln, NE
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
44.4mi
UNLIMITED
70 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
18:54 UTC · Lincoln, NE · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
18:54 UTC · Lincoln, NE · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Lincoln, NE
Satellite · infrared · animated
Lincoln, NE
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Lincoln, NE
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:28 AM
Sunrise
1:00 AM
Daylight
15h 01m
Sunset
4:01 PM
Civil dusk
9:35 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Lincoln, NE
The moon
Waning Gibbous
79% illuminated
Moonrise
11:23 PM
Moonset
10:33 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Lincoln, NE
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Lincoln at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 7°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 21 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 68502, 68503, 68504, 68505, 68506, 68507, 68508, 68510 +15 more

16-Day Forecast — Lincoln

  1. Sat87°67°50%
  2. Sun93°67°9%
  3. Mon89°67°2%
  4. Tue92°69°1%
  5. Wed96°71°40%
  6. Thu88°69°46%
  7. Fri84°64°13%
  8. Sat81°62°5%
  9. Sun82°62°6%
  10. Mon85°66°4%
  11. Tue87°67°4%
  12. Wed92°67°6%
  13. Thu95°72°13%
  14. Fri96°67°19%
  15. Sat82°65°26%
  16. Sun80°60°16%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Live wind & temperature near Lincoln

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 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 Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Isolated severe storms possible. Limited threat for hail or damaging wind.

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.

January 1–5: Frost quiets the live oaks.January 6–10: Still water thickens with ice.January 11–15: Springs begin to move beneath ice.January 16–20: Cardinal dawn calls grow bolder.January 21–25: Late January thaw pulses.January 26–31: Last freeze locks the land.February 1–5: February's lengthening light.February 6–10: Warming winds thaw the margin.February 11–15: Magnolia blooms break the gray.February 16–20: Mockingbirds resume the dawn chorus.February 21–25: Rain replaces the last snow.February 26–28: Mist clings to greening valleys.March 1–5: The green pulse awakens.March 6–10: Hibernators emerge to call.March 11–15: Dogwood and redbud ignite.March 16–20: Swallowtails emerge from winter silk.March 21–25: Light crowns the dogwood canopy.March 26–31: Redbud cascades over the thaw.April 1–5: Thunder announces the wet season.April 6–10: Barn swallows carve the warming sky.April 11–15: Magnolia blooms and falls in a breath.April 16–20: First rainbows arch over thunderheads.April 21–25: Reeds push through marsh water.April 26–30: Frost retreats; seedlings rise free.May 1–5: Warblers flood the canopy in waves.May 6–10: Tulip poplar lights the forest crown.May 11–15: Shad pulse upstream through rapids.May 16–20: Roses open on the Piedmont edge.May 21–25: Fireflies scout the humid dusk.May 26–31: Frog choruses rise from every wetland.June 1–5: Fireflies pulse through the magnolias.June 6–10: Kudzu climbs deeper into green.June 11–15: Sun climbs to its northern throne.June 16–20: Heat settles and the rain begins.June 21–25: The longest day turns toward shadow.June 26–30: Fireflies drift through Spanish moss.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon.July 6–10: Thunderheads boil and break at dusk.July 11–15: Thunder builds each drowsy afternoon.July 16–20: Cicadas claim the long noon.July 21–25: Dog days drape the earth in haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their rasping chorus.August 1–5: Dusk arrives one minute earlier each night.August 6–10: Meteorological summer's turning page.August 11–15: Cool winds gather at the margins.August 16–20: Dog-day cicadas rise.August 21–25: Heat breaks in creek beds.August 26–31: Monarchs gather strength.September 1–5: Harvests begin in earnest.September 6–10: Dew beads on resurrection fern.September 11–15: Raptors trail the thermals.September 16–20: Day and dark find balance.September 21–25: Thunder quiets the land.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Swamp waters recede.October 6–10: Maples ignite the ridge.October 11–15: Asters crown the meadows.October 16–20: Crickets sing at dusk.October 21–25: Frost paints the garden.October 26–31: Light rains whisper down.November 1–5: Sweetgum Turns Crimson.November 6–10: Camellia Blooms Break Through.November 11–15: Earth Stiffens Underfoot.November 16–20: Bare Limbs Hold the Light.November 21–25: First Frost Grips the High Ground.November 26–30: North Wind Strips the Last Leaves.December 1–5: Darkness Falls Before Dinner.December 6–10: Winter Locks the Land.December 11–15: Wildlife Retreats to Shelter.December 16–20: Ice Edges Deepen Inward.December 21–25: The Sun Begins its Return.December 26–31: The Year Turns in Silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the scorching afternoon

Dog-day cicadas emerge in waves, their rasp dominating every sunny hour; heat peaks above 90 degrees daily.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

In Lincoln, July runs warmest near 78°F and January coldest around 25°F, while May is the wettest month (4.9 inches) and January the driest (0.7 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January25°0.7″2
February30°0.9″3
March41°1.6″4
April52°2.7″5
May63°4.9″8
June74°4.5″7
July78°3.3″6
August76°3.3″6
September67°2.9″5
October54°2.1″4
November40°1.3″2
December29°1.2″3

Regional context

Lincoln's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 25°F Januarys with 78°F Julys — a 53°F swing. About 29.3 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 54 days a year.

Precipitation in Lincoln runs summer-dominant: May averages 4.9 inches across 7.6 days of warm-season storms, while January drops to 0.7 inches over 2.4 rainy days of drier cool air. It is a warm-season-wet pattern Lincoln shares with places like Yankee Hill, NE, Walton, NE and Cheney, NE.

By mid-April the frosts ease in Lincoln, opening the season for kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Warm-soil crops in Lincoln wait about two weeks past Lincoln's last frost, once the soil warms. Around mid-November, freezing nights resume in Lincoln and tender crops must come in. Within Lincoln, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Lincoln's local frost dates.

Similar climates: Yankee Hill, NE, Walton, NE, Cheney, NE, Emerald, NE, Prairie Home, 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 lands near mid-April, and in Lincoln the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Lincoln?
May is the wettest month in Lincoln, about 4.9 inches on average; the year totals roughly 29 inches.
What is the warmest month in Lincoln?
The warmest stretch in Lincoln comes in July, around 78°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Lincoln?
On average January is the chilliest month in Lincoln, about 25°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Lincoln?
Lincoln's last frost (mid-April) cues hardy greens; in Lincoln, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Lincoln get?
Expect roughly 54 wet days a year in Lincoln.
What hardiness zone is Lincoln?
Lincoln sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 25°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Lincoln?
Lincoln's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Lincoln?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Lincoln in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Lincoln?
Current conditions for Lincoln and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Lincoln forecast updated?
The Lincoln forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Lincoln?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Lincoln are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Lincoln?
The next few days in Lincoln's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Lincoln's humid subtropical climate in Nebraska pairs 25°F Januarys with 78°F Julys, 53°F apart across the seasons.

Rain and snow bring Lincoln roughly 29 inches a year across approximately 54 measurable-precipitation days.

The 53°F gap between Lincoln's summer and winter, at 40.8°N, shapes Lincoln's frost calendar.

All cities in Nebraska →

Omaha, NE weather →

ZIP codes in Lincoln

  • 68528
  • 68524
  • 68526
  • 68520
  • 68521
  • 68522
  • 68514
  • 68516
  • 68510
  • 68512
  • 68506
  • 68507
  • 68504
  • 68505
  • 68502
  • 68503
  • 68508
  • 68588
  • 68509
  • 68529
  • 68542
  • 68544
  • 68583

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.