Photo: Workman at en.wikipedia · CC BY 2.5Midwinter lows in Nebraska City sink below those of 86% of U.S. towns
On a normal July day the thermometer tops out near 87°. Precipitation is light here, less than falls on 81% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 0.6°, most of all in March. Radiators earn their keep from November to March, the months that average under 50°.
A year in Nebraska City at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Nebraska City’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Nebraska City’s place in Nebraska State beside it.
What a year in Nebraska City feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 182 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 18 and the first by October 19. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Nebraska City 2nw, NE, 2.1 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Nebraska City’s center in zone 6a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −10°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 24 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Nebraska City 2nw, NE, falls mostly in January. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 33 inches a year; May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 78 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Nebraska City
85% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from October through April.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Nebraska City 2nw, NE.
Living with Nebraska City’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
182 frost-free days in zone 6a. The last frost comes by Apr 18 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 19.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: April, May, June, September and October. 2.0 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Nebraska City from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (38%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 19%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Nebraska City and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Nebraska City yet.
Climates most like Nebraska City’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska City, NE | 15° | 87° | 33" | 24" |
| Ottumwa, IA | 14° | 86° | 37" | 24" |
| Chillicothe, IL | 16° | 86° | 37" | 20" |
| Napoleon, OH | 19° | 85° | 36" | 25" |
| Kirksville, MO | 17° | 86° | 41" | 19" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Nebraska City averaged 0.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in March (+2.2°).
A smaller shift than in 96% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Nebraska City compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Nebraska City’s place among Nebraska State’s.
Nebraska City weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Nebraska City’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Nebraska City 2nw, NE. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34° | 15° | 0.8" | 8.1" | 5 | 13 | 17° – 37° |
| February | 40° | 19° | 1.0" | 7.2" | 4 | 10 | 18° – 39° |
| March | 52° | 30° | 1.9" | 1.9" | 6 | 3 | 33° – 56° |
| April | 64° | 40° | 3.2" | 1.1" | 8 | 0 | 43° – 58° |
| May | 74° | 51° | 5.2" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 57° – 71° |
| June | 84° | 62° | 4.9" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 69° – 77° |
| July | 87° | 66° | 4.3" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 72° – 82° |
| August | 85° | 64° | 3.5" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 69° – 79° |
| September | 79° | 54° | 3.1" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 60° – 72° |
| October | 66° | 42° | 2.7" | 0.1" | 6 | 0 | 47° – 59° |
| November | 51° | 30° | 1.5" | 1.3" | 4 | 1 | 32° – 51° |
| December | 38° | 20° | 1.2" | 4.2" | 5 | 8 | 16° – 35° |
| Year | 63° | 41° | 33.3" | 24.0" | 78 | 36 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 33° to 56°. June is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Nebraska City’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Nebraska City’s center.
- Snow: Nebraska City 2nw, NE.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Nebraska City 2nw, NE, 2.1 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Nebraska City’s climate
What is the weather like in Nebraska City?
A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 24 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 86% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 63% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Nebraska City in winter?
January nights average 15°. About 136 nights a year reach 32° or below and 10 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 17°.
How much snow does Nebraska City get?
About 24 inches in a normal winter at Nebraska City 2nw, NE, most of it in January, with snow on the ground about 36 days a year.
How hot does it get in Nebraska City?
July, with a typical high of 87° and a low of 66°. About 30 days a year reach 90° and 1 reach 100° (Nebraska City 2nw, NE).
When is the first and last frost in Nebraska City?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by April 18 and the first fall frost by October 19, about 182 frost-free days, at Nebraska City 2nw, NE.
What growing zone is Nebraska City in?
Zone 6a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −10°.
What is the best time of year to visit Nebraska City?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), April, May, June, September and October. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Nebraska City getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.6° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 96% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Nebraska City.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.