Main Highlights
Nebraska’s average temperature in July 2026 was 77.6°F, which was 3.1°F above the 20th century average, making this the 17th warmest July for Nebraska. This is the 16th month in a row where the average temperature statewide was above average. Again, the Panhandle climate division saw the largest departure from normal at 5.3°F above the average, resulting in the 3rd warmest July for this division. The smallest change was in the Southeast climate division, with an increase of 0.7°F. As for the United States, this was the warmest July on record.
Nebraska’s average precipitation was 2.78” for July 2026, 0.27” below the 20th century average. The Panhandle climate division saw the most drastic change, receiving an average of 1.36” of precipitation in June, 1.03” less than the 20th century average, which put it as the 19th driest June on record. Northern and southwestern portions also received less than average rainfall, while the Southeast climate division received 4.52” of precipitation, 0.75” above the average.
Water Year Trend
The trend for a dry water year continues, with the average precipitation in Nebraska of 13.63” from October 1st to July 31st, 4.16” below average. This makes it the 10th lowest for precipitation in the water year so far.
Weather and Drought Summary
Severe weather was quiet and dispersed in Nebraska for July. On the 28th and 30th, 80 mph winds were measured 2 miles north of Broadwater and 13 miles northwest of Brownlee, respectively. Three-inch hail was observed 8 miles north-northwest of Stratton on the 2nd, damaging crops and buildings.
The spatial coverage in drought increased throughout July; however, parts of the state with extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4) drought saw a slight improvement. At the start of July, over 70% of the state was in a drought (D1-4), with the worst cases in northeastern Nebraska and the panhandle, while southeast and east-central Nebraska were not in a drought.
By the end of the month, east-central Nebraska was in a moderate drought (D1), portions of the southeast being abnormally dry. Small areas of improvement were scattered throughout the state, and nearly 84% of the state was in a drought (D1-4) by the end of the month.
Temperature and Precipitation Extremes
Maximum High Temperature: 111°F, McCook
Minimum High Temperature: 66°F, Surprise
Minimum Low Temperature: 46°F, Agate 3 E
Maximum Low Temperature: 81°F, Lincoln 8 ENE
Maximum Precipitation: 9.78", Nora 1.5 N
Maximum Snowfall: 1.6", Bushnell 15 S
Monthly Station Table
| Station | Station ID | Avg Max Temp | Avg Min Temp | Avg Temp | Max Temp | Min Temp | GDD base 50 | HDD base 65 | CDD base 65 | Days Max > 90F | Days Min > 70F | Days Max < 32F | Days Min < 0F | Total Precip |
| ALLIANCE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT ASOS | KAIA | 94.2 | 60.4 | 77.3 | 108 | 50 | 846 | 0 | 381 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.89 |
| BROKEN BOW MUNICIPAL AP | KBBW | 88.1 | 63.2 | 75.6 | 102 | 57 | 795 | 0 | 330 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.65 |
| CHADRON MUNICIPAL AP | KCDR | 97.1 | 64.9 | 81 | 108 | 52 | 960 | 0 | 496 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1.56 |
| COLUMBUS | KOLU | 87.4 | 67.3 | 77.4 | 99 | 61 | 794 | 0 | 359 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2.2 |
| FALLS CITY BRENNER FIELD | KFNB | 87.4 | 68.6 | 78 | 98 | 62 | 868 | 0 | 402 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 3.86 |
| GRAND ISLAND CENTRAL NE REGIONAL AP | KGRI | 89.1 | 66.9 | 78 | 103 | 60 | 868 | 0 | 403 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4.46 |
| HASTINGS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT | KHSI | 89.3 | 67.5 | 78.4 | 102 | 60 | 881 | 0 | 416 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2.62 |
| HOLDREGE BREWSTER FIELD AP | KHDE | 88.3 | 66.5 | 77.4 | 98 | 56 | 850 | 0 | 385 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IMPERIAL MUNICIPAL AP | KIML | 92 | 62.9 | 77.5 | 108 | 56 | 852 | 0 | 386 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.38 |
| LINCOLN AIRPORT | KLNK | 89.4 | 68.6 | 79 | 101 | 63 | 898 | 0 | 434 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 6.78 |
| MCCOOK MUNICIPAL AP | KMCK | 94.1 | 65.8 | 79.9 | 111 | 57 | 928 | 0 | 463 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3.02 |
| NORFOLK KARL STEFAN MEMORIAL AP | KOFK | 90.5 | 66.9 | 78.7 | 105 | 61 | 890 | 0 | 425 | 19 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 2.46 |
| NORTH PLATTE REGIONAL AP | KLBF | 92.4 | 63.7 | 78 | 108 | 55 | 869 | 0 | 404 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.55 |
| OMAHA EPPLEY AIRFIELD | KOMA | 90.5 | 70.4 | 80.4 | 104 | 61 | 943 | 0 | 478 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1.31 |
| ORD EVELYN SHARP FIELD | KODX | 89.3 | 65.4 | 77.3 | 104 | 58 | 847 | 2 | 384 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2.74 |
| SCOTTSBLUFF W B HEILIG FIELD AP | KBFF | 95 | 63.1 | 79.1 | 108 | 53 | 901 | 0 | 436 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| SIDNEY MUNICIPAL AP | KSNY | 93.3 | 61.3 | 77.3 | 106 | 53 | 710 | 0 | 320 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.96 |
| TEKAMAH MUNICIPAL AP | KTQE | 88.8 | 66.3 | 77.6 | 101 | 59 | 855 | 0 | 390 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3.17 |
| VALENTINE MILLER FIELD AP | KVTN | 92.5 | 65.3 | 78.9 | 109 | 58 | 894 | 0 | 430 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3.87 |
