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

Ralston, Nebraska Weather

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

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

Ralston, NE
Saturday, July 4 at 3:17 PM
80
°
Overcast
Feels like
89°
Humidity
65%
Wind
2 mph
Sunrise
12:56 AM
Sunset
4:00 PM
Ralston, NE
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastRalston, NE: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 68 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 68°H 90°
Ralston, NE
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Light Drizzle
    71%
    0.01″
    82°70°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    92°68°+10°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    —
    —
    85°66°-7°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    88°67°+3°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Drizzle
    42%
    —
    93°69°+5°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Showers
    52%
    0.14″
    85°68°-8°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Showers
    14%
    0.22″
    83°65°-2°
Ralston, NE
Next 24 hours · Mild now
HOT 90°60°78°95°12p6p12a6anow 80°high 90°low 68°PRECIP %
Ralston, NE
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WNW
297° · veering 115°
Direction
WNW
297°
Sustained
2
mph
Gust
5
mph
Peak 24h
20
avg 5
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 5 · pk 20 @ 8:00a
010MPHB1B2B3B4-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 105SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Ralston, NE
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
976.4
-0.5 mb in 3h · steady · 28.83 inHg
Now
976.4
mb
3h
-0.5
mb
12h
+4.1
mb
24h
+1.9
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 972–978
965970975980985-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW977.5972.2976.3
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low — expect rough seas, strong wind, and persistent rain.
Ralston, NE
Air quality
39
AQI
Good
→-1 in 6h

AQI 39 (Good), driven by Ozone. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). Ozone at AQI 45 — peak already passed at 1 PM under overcast skies. Levels should ease through evening.

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

PM 2.5Good
7.8μg/m³
PM 10Good
9μg/m³
NO₂Good
3μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERModerate
96μg/m³
UV IndexHigh
6.1

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 45 — peak already passed at 1 PM under overcast skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 45
UV peak
5.8 at earlier today
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 45

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 7.8 µg/m³ (AQI 43) with a 0.84 fine-to-coarse ratio and 2 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.84
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/m³330
Ralston, NE
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
48.5mi
UNLIMITED
49 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
20:17 UTC · Ralston, 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
20:17 UTC · Ralston, NE · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Ralston, NE
Satellite · infrared · animated
Ralston, NE
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Ralston, NE
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:24 AM
Sunrise
12:56 AM
Daylight
15h 04m
Sunset
4:00 PM
Civil dusk
9:34 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Ralston, NE
The moon
Waning Gibbous
79% illuminated
Moonrise
11:21 PM
Moonset
10:29 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Ralston, NE
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

bird
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Ralston at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 10°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 23 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

16-Day Forecast — Ralston

  1. Sat84°70°71%
  2. Sun92°68°7%
  3. Mon85°66°2%
  4. Tue88°67°1%
  5. Wed93°69°42%
  6. Thu85°68°52%
  7. Fri83°65°14%
  8. Sat79°60°6%
  9. Sun80°61°6%
  10. Mon81°61°6%
  11. Tue83°63°3%
  12. Wed86°63°8%
  13. Thu94°69°13%
  14. Fri90°66°19%
  15. Sat80°65°23%
  16. Sun77°59°16%

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

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 — Ralston

SPC has placed Ralston in the Marginal Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYMRGLMarginal Risk
  • TOMORROWTSTMGeneral Thunderstorms
  • DAY 3NONENo severe risk

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: Winter settles deep on the plains.January 6–10: Arctic cold grips the heartland.January 11–15: Sunlight returns to the sloped terrain.January 16–20: Ring-necked pheasants call from cover.January 21–25: Deepest cold locks the prairie.January 26–31: Deep winter's pivot point.February 1–5: February's first breath.February 6–10: Subtle shifts in the light.February 11–15: Bald eagles concentrate on open water.February 16–20: Cold rebound before the final thaw.February 21–25: First killdeer return to thawed fields.February 26–28: Winter's veil grows thin.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the land.March 6–10: Hibernators wake to open air.March 11–15: Spring arrives with fury and grace.March 16–20: Sandhill Cranes Rise from the Platte.March 21–25: Equinox — Night and Day Hold Balance.March 26–31: First Green Breaks Through Brown Earth.April 1–5: Thunder Voices Wake the Prairie.April 6–10: Cliff Swallows Return to Mud Nests.April 11–15: Wild Geese Wing North in Massive Flocks.April 16–20: Rainbows Follow Afternoon Storms.April 21–25: Prairie Sedges Push Through Wet Soil.April 26–30: Last Frost Retreats North.May 1–5: Wildflowers Erupt Across the Prairie.May 6–10: Grain Rains Feed the Growing Fields.May 11–15: Seedlings Rise From Frost-Free Soil.May 16–20: Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows.May 21–25: Summer Arrives Early in Wind and Heat.May 26–31: Frogs Begin Their Nightly Chorus.June 1–5: Prairie lightning bugs rise.June 6–10: Earthworms surface after rain.June 11–15: Toward the solstice glow.June 16–20: Lesser ripening, greater heat.June 21–25: Solstice—sun at zenith.June 26–30: Fireflies in the darkening oak.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Warm wind sweeps the tallgrass.July 11–15: Thunder builds every afternoon.July 16–20: Corn tassels and reaches peak.July 21–25: Dog days settle in haze.July 26–31: Katydid chorus erupts at dusk.August 1–5: Great rains sometimes fall.August 6–10: Autumn's edge approaches.August 11–15: Cool wind rises from the north.August 16–20: Late summer wind through tallgrass.August 21–25: Dew settles on the tallgrass.August 26–31: Monarchs gather on prairie.September 1–5: Corn tassels and heavy skies.September 6–10: Purple asters rise on the prairie.September 11–15: Hawks ride thermal currents south.September 16–20: Equinox brings balance to day.September 21–25: Thunder stills across the plains.September 26–30: Snow geese wheel through the flyway.October 1–5: Prairie enters dormancy slowly.October 6–10: Geese gather on autumn waters.October 11–15: First widespread freeze arrives.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Frost deepens through the night.October 26–31: Light rains fall on frozen ground.November 1–5: Tallgrass turns gold.November 6–10: North wind strips the oak.November 11–15: Frost locks the prairie.November 16–20: Open sky grows cold.November 21–25: First snow falls soft.November 26–30: Blizzard drives the herds.December 1–5: Deep winter takes hold.December 6–10: Sky closes cold, winter reigns.December 11–15: Darkness deepens, life retreats.December 16–20: Rivers turn to stone.December 21–25: Solstice — sun begins 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 afternoon

Millions of periodical and annual cicadas emerge, their droning chorus filling the summer heat; the soundtrack of midsummer settles over prairie and wetland.

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 Ralston, July runs warmest near 78°F and January coldest around 24°F, while May is the wettest month (4.7 inches) and January the driest (0.8 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January24°0.8″2
February29°0.9″3
March41°1.8″4
April53°3.2″6
May64°4.7″8
June74°4.4″7
July78°3.5″6
August76°4.6″6
September68°3.0″5
October54°2.3″4
November40°1.4″3
December29°1.2″3

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Ralston sees 24°F Januarys and 78°F Julys, a 54°F range, plus around 31.9 inches of precipitation across 57 days.

Ralston's rain peaks in summer: May brings 4.7 inches over 7.8 thunderstorm-fed days, while January sees just 0.8 inches across 2.3 days under cooler, drier air. That summer-storm rhythm groups Ralston with places like La Vista, NE, Papillion, NE and Omaha, NE.

Ralston's growing window opens around mid-April, once Ralston's overnight lows stop freezing — sow kale, peas, spinach, and parsnips. Hold Ralston's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past Ralston's last frost. It shuts near mid-November, when freezes return to Ralston and tender plants need cover. Within Ralston, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Ralston's local frost dates.

Similar climates: La Vista, NE, Papillion, NE, Omaha, NE, Chalco, NE, Bellevue, NE.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Ralston?
Frost typically leaves Ralston by mid-April and returns to Ralston near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Ralston?
May is the wettest month in Ralston, about 4.7 inches on average; the year totals roughly 32 inches.
What is the warmest month in Ralston?
July is Ralston's warmest month, averaging about 78°F.
What is the coldest month in Ralston?
Ralston bottoms out in January, with a mean near 24°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Ralston?
Frost-hardy sowings begin at mid-April in Ralston; warm-season starts follow two weeks on.
How many rainy days does Ralston get?
Ralston records around 57 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Ralston?
Ralston's hardiness zone tracks its winter low; with January near 24°F, check the USDA ZIP map for the exact zone.
What is the 10-day forecast for Ralston?
Ralston'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 Ralston?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Ralston in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Ralston?
Current conditions for Ralston and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Ralston forecast updated?
The Ralston forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Ralston?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Ralston 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 Ralston?
The next few days in Ralston's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Ralston's warm-summer humid continental climate in Nebraska pairs 24°F Januarys with 78°F Julys, 54°F apart across the seasons.

In a typical year Ralston records about 32 inches of precipitation on around 57 days.

At 41.2°N, Ralston's 54°F summer-to-winter swing sets when Ralston's gardens wake and when frost returns.

All cities in Nebraska →

Omaha, NE weather →

ZIP codes in Ralston

  • 68127

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.