Weather and climate in Omaha (Nebraska)

The climate of Omaha, the main city of Nebraska, is continental, with very cold winters and hot summers, with quite frequent thunderstorms.
The city is located in the Midwest of the United States, not far from the geographic center of the country, at an altitude of 350 meters (1,150 feet). The Missouri River, which receives the waters of the Platte River south of the city, marks the border with the state of Iowa, where the town of Council Bluffs is located.
The climate is characterized by clashes of air masses of different origins, which give rise to sudden changes in temperature, thunderstorms (in spring and summer), sometimes accompanied by hail, and intense cold waves in winter.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of -4.2 °C (24.4 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 25.6 °C (78.1 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 810 millimeters (31.9 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 20 mm (0.8 in) in the driest month (January) to 120 mm (4.7 in) in the wettest (May).
Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from late November to early March, is very cold.
Snowfalls are frequent, although generally they are not very abundant, since winter is the driest season of the year. On average, 69 centimeters (27,1 in) of snow fall per year. It usually snows from October through April. The heaviest snowfall in one day occurred in February 1965, when 46.5 cm (18.5 in) of snow fell.
On average, there are 134 days on which the minimum temperature is equal to or below freezing, and that usually happens from October through April. Furthermore, there are 40 icing days (that is, on which the air temperature does not go above freezing), and that usually happens from November through March.
Cold waves are intense, in fact, the temperature usually drops to -25 °C (-13 °F) on the coldest nights of the year. The record cold, -34.5 °C (-30 °F), occurred in January 1977. After 1981, the temperature dropped to -30.5 °C (-23 °F) in January 1982, December 1989, February 1996 and February 2021.
However, there may be short periods when the temperature exceeds 10/12 °C (50/54 °F), and sometimes reaches as high as 20 °C (68 °F), even in the middle of winter.

Summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, although thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
On average, there are 33 days with a maximum temperature equal to or above 32 °C (90 °F), and that usually happens from May through September.
Typically, the temperature reaches 38/39 °C (100/102 °F) on the hottest days of the year, although the record is 42.5 °C (108.5 °F), recorded in July 1995. In July 2012, the average maximum was 36.9 °C (98.4 °F).

Spring and autumn, from mid-March to May and from September to mid-November, are contrasted seasons, with fairly frequent rains and sudden changes in temperature. However, there are also stable and pleasant periods.
Omaha is located in the area where tornadoes can form, which are most likely in spring, but can occasionally occur in autumn as well.



On average, there are around 2,725 sunshine hours per year. Thus, the sun shines for a good number of hours. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit Omaha is early autumn, from September to early October. You can also choose spring, in particular the month of May, which however is a more unstable period.

Omaha - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -4.2 °C (24 °F), with a minimum of -9.3 °C (15.2 °F) and a maximum of 0.9 °C (33.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -21.5 °C (-7 °F). However, it dropped to -28.9 °C (-20 °F) in January 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) in January 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).

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February is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -1.7 °C (29 °F), with a minimum of -7.1 °C (19.3 °F) and a maximum of 3.7 °C (38.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -19 °C (-2 °F). However, it dropped to -30.6 °C (-23.1 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in February 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).

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March is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 5.0 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of -1.1 °C (30 °F) and a maximum of 11.2 °C (52.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -13 °C (9 °F). However, it dropped to -23 °C (-9.4 °F) in March 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 32.8 °C (91 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.4 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 5.1 °C (41.1 °F) and a maximum of 17.8 °C (64.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -10.6 °C (12.9 °F) in April 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in April 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).

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May is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.6 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 11.5 °C (52.7 °F) and a maximum of 23.7 °C (74.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.1 °C (30 °F) in May 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm (4.7 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (10 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.3 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 17.4 °C (63.4 °F) and a maximum of 29.1 °C (84.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in June 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °F) in June 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm (4.5 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25.6 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 20 °C (68 °F) and a maximum of 31.2 °C (88.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it dropped to 8.9 °C (48 °F) in July 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (98.5 °F). However, it reached 42.7 °C (108.9 °F) in July 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).

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August is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 24.3 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 18.7 °C (65.6 °F) and a maximum of 29.9 °C (85.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.8 °C (46 °F) in August 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in August 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm (4.5 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.8 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) and a maximum of 26.2 °C (79.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) in September 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 39 °C (102.2 °F) in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6.2 °C (43.2 °F) and a maximum of 18.6 °C (65.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -9 °C (15.8 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in October 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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November is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.6 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of -1 °C (30.2 °F) and a maximum of 10.2 °C (50.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -10.5 °C (13 °F). However, it dropped to -21.2 °C (-6.2 °F) in November 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in November 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).

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December is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -1.8 °C (29 °F), with a minimum of -6.8 °C (19.8 °F) and a maximum of 3.2 °C (37.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -18 °C (0 °F). However, it dropped to -23.9 °C (-11 °F) in December 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it reached 21 °C (69.8 °F) in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).