Lincoln's Cold Weather Climatology (1887-2025)

NOTE:  All data on this page are from the National Weather Service and HPRCC data archives.

12-09-2013 cold scene UNL Campus

 December 9, 2013: East Campus, UNL. Temperature -10°F

Topics at this site

1.  The coldest recorded minimum temperatures
2.  The coldest recorded daytime high temperatures
3.  The coldest recorded 24 hours in Lincoln
4.  Climatology of daytime highs below 0°F
5.  Winter seasons with the most number of days 0°F or below
6.  Winter seasons with the least number of days 0°F or below 
7.  Current and Recent Winters and the number of days 0°F or below
8.  The longest cold spell with temperatures staying below 0°F
9.  Listing of Number of Days, each month 0°F or below
10.  Table of The Number of Days, Each Month, 0°F or Below for each Winter Season
11.  Ranking winters with the Most days 0°F or below
12.  A graph of the Annual Number of days 0°F or below (1887-2021) 
    
________________________________________________________________
 1.  The Coldest Recorded Minimum Temperatures for Lincoln, NE, °F, (1887 to Present)
 

Lincoln, Nebraska Low Temperature -20°F and colder
Data: 1887-2024 (138 years)

-33 JAN 12 1974
-31 FEB 16 2021
-29 JAN 11 1974
-29 JAN 19 1892
-27 DEC 22 1983
-27 JAN 15 1888
-26 FEB 15 2021
-26 JAN 1 1974
-26 JAN 12 1912
-26 FEB 13 1905
-26 FEB 11 1899
-25 JAN 6 1890
-24 FEB 1 1979
-24 FEB 9 1975
-24 FEB 12 1944
-24 FEB 12 1899
-23 DEC 23 1989
-23 FEB 8 1971
-23 JAN 27 1940
-23 JAN 11 1918
-22 FEB 3 1996
-22 DEC 22 1989
-22 JAN 2 1887 
 
-22 JAN 28 1915
-22 FEB 12 1905
-22 FEB 2 1905
-22 FEB 9 1899
-21 JAN 9 1974
-21 JAN 18 1940
-21 JAN 13 1916
-21 JAN 27 1915
-21 FEB 4 1905
-21 JAN 25 1905
-20 FEB 2 1996
-20 DEC 19 1989
-20 JAN 31 1979
-20 JAN 7 1974
-20 DEC 31 1973
-20 JAN 23 1948
-20 JAN 5 1940
-20 FEB 5 1936
-20 DEC 10 1919
-20 FEB 1 1917
-20 JAN 12 1892
-20 JAN 9 1887
-20 JAN 8 1887
 

There have been 46 days during the past 138 years (1887-2024)
in which the recorded temperature in Lincoln, NE, fell to or below -20°F.

Some months and days have had clusters of extreme cold. For example, January 12th has seen -33°F in 1974, -26°F in 1912, and -20°F in 1887.

The decade with the most number of times the temperature fell to or below -20°F was the 1970's with 10 occurrences (5 of which were in January 1974).

The temperature has only fallen to or below -20°F 4 times since 1990, and that was in February 15 & 16, 2021 and February 2 & 3, 1996.

2. The Coldest Recorded Daytime High Temperatures, °F, 1887 - to present

-16°F January 14, 1888
-13°F February 11, 1899
-12°F February 2, 1905
-10°F December 24, 1983
-10°F February 8, 1899
-10°F January 13, 1888
-9°F February 7, 1933
-9°F January 11, 1918
-9°F February 12, 1905
-9°F January 20, 1888

 

3.  The Coldest 24 Hours, Calendar Day, in Lincoln, NE.

February 11, 1899

HIGH TEMPERATURE = -13°F
LOW TEMPERATURE = -26°F
DAILY MEAN = -20°F

Although the coldest minimum ever recorded was -33°F on January 12, 1974,
the high for that day was +6F for a daily mean temperature of -13°F.

 

4.  Climatology of daytime highs below 0°F

LINK>>>  Lincoln's climatology of daily highs below 0°F

 

5. Winter Seasons with the Most Number of Days with low temperatures
0°F or lower (Winters 1887-1888 to 2023-2024)
SEASON
1977-1978
1887-1888
1978-1979
1935-1936
1917-1918
1981-1982
1976-1977
1898-1899
1939-1940
1904-1905
DAYS
36
36
35
33
31
30
29
29
26
25
SEASON 
2013-2014
1894-1895
1911-1912
1983-1984
1961-1962
1964-1965
1915-1916
1962-1963
1969-1970
.
DAYS
22
22
22
22
21
21
21
20
20
.
6. Winter seasons with the least number of days 0°F or below 

Winter Seasons with the Least Number of Days with the
low temperatures 0°F or lower (Winters 1887-1888 to 2023-2024)

Season      
1980-1981:  
1954-1955:  
1934-1935:  
1926-1927:  
1925-1926:  
1910-1911:  
1900-1901:  
2015-2016:  
2012-2013:  
2011-2012:  
1952-1953: 
Season    
Days
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
Days
Season       
1952-1953:  
1940-1941:  
1933-1934:  
1920-1921:  
1991-1992:  
1982-1983:  
2019-1920:  
1907-1908:  
1895-1896:  
1986-1987:  
1930-1931:  
Season   
Days
4
4
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
1
0
Days

 

7.   Recent Winters and the number of days 0°F or below
 
Current Winter 2024-2025 (3 days)
January 19: -6°F
January 20: -7°F
January 21: -11°F

____________________________________________

Recent Winter Season Totals

Winter 2023-2024: 8 days
Winter 2022-2023: 7 days
Winter 2021-2022: 9 days
Winter 2020-2021: 15 days
Winter 2019-2020: 2 days
Winter 2018-2019: 13 days
Winter 2017-2018: 17 days
Winter 2016-2017: 6 days
Winter 2015-2016: 4 days

 
Winter 2014-2015:14 days
Winter 2013-2014: 22 days
Winter 2012-2013: 4 days
Winter 2011-2012: 4 days
Winter 2010-2011: 10 days
Winter 2009-2010: 16 days
Winter 2008-2009: 13 days
Winter 2007-2008: 9 days
Winter 2006-2007: 8 days

 

 


8.  The longest cold spell with temperatures staying below 0°F

What is the Longest Cold Spell in Lincoln, with the temperature remaining below 0°F?

The answer is 188 hours, 5 PM, December 17 to 1 PM, December 25, 1983.
 

 

9.  Annual Listing of Number of Days, each Month, 0°F or Below, 1887 - 2025
 
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnualYear
20253           22025
202480000000000082024
20230200-0000000022023
2022630000000005142022
20210130000000000132021
202011000000000242020
2019553000000000132019
2018760000000000132018
201740000000000482017
201640000000000262016
2015471000000000122015
20141062000000002202014
201312000000000472013
201202000000000132012
2011530000000002102011
2010820000000002122010
2009601000000006132009
2008710000000006142008
200726000000000192007
200602000000000022006
2005810000000006152005
2004740000000002132004
200334000000000182003
200203200000000052002
200125000000000182001
200000000000000992000
199950000000000271999
199820300000000271998
19971000000000000101997
19961043000000003201996
199560200000000191995
1994870000000002171994
1993860000000000141993
199210000000000231992
19911000000000020121991
199001000000000891990
19890900000000013221989
1988860000000000141988
198700000000000001987
198635000000001091986
1985690000000008231985
198470100000000081984
19830300000000014171983
19821682000000000261982
198103000000000471981
1980451000000002121980
197919140000000002351979
197820103000000002351978
19771620000000003211977
1976700000000029181976
1975432000000012121975
19741200000000001131974
1973810000000005141973
1972720000000009181972
197154000000000091971
19701000000000000101970
196951000000000281969
196841000000000381968
196731000000000151967
1966810000000001101966
196554000000000091965
196420000000002371964
196313100000000011251963
19621031000000003171962
1961610000000007141961
1960343000000001111960
195952000000000071959
195813000000000041958
195750000000000051957
195632000000000051956
195523000000000161955
195480000000000081954
195320000000000021953
195240100000000271952
195110300000000011241951
1950920000000003141950
1949841000000000131949
1948864000000005231948
194743000000000071947
194620000000000351946
194530000000000691945
1944430000000012101944
1943504000000003121943
1942910000000001111942
194100000000000331941
19402320000000022291940
193906000000000171939
193832000000000051938
19371210000000003161937
193613190000000001331936
193540000000000151935
193403000000000141934
193307000000000181933
1932512000000007151932
193100000000000001931
19301100000000000111930
1929770000000002161929
192830000000000031928
192711000000000571927
192620000000000351926
192521000000000361925
192411200000000010231924
192302200000000151923
1922630000000002111922
192100000000000221921
192001100000000461920
1919410000000009141919
19181360000000001201918
19174410000000012211917
19161271000000008281916
191560000000000061915
1914051000000007131914
1913742000000000131913
19121621000000000191912
191150000000000381911
1910550000000000101910
1909730000000009191909
190802000000000131908
190724000000000061907
190613200000000061906
19059140000000000231905
1904830000000002131904
190314000000000381903
1902560000000003141902
1901130000000008121901
1900361000000001111900
18995160000000000211899
189801000000003591898
1897721000000016171897
189620000000002041896
18951091000000000201895
1894760000000002151894
1893670000000001141893
1892900000000005141892
189105300000000191891
18901252000000000191890
1889280000000000101889
18881872000000000271888
18871380000000036301887
Totals764443630000000203641654Totals
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnualYear


The 137 year (1887-2024) annual average is 12.0 days, 0oF or lower.
The new 30-year (1981-2010) annual average is 10.1 days, 0oF or lower.
The old 30-year (1981-2010) annual average is 11.4 days, 0oF or lower.

The recent 20-year annual average, 2004 through 2023 is 10.2 days 0°F or lower.
The recent 10-year annual average, 2014 through 2023 is 10.5 days, 0oF or lower.

 

10.   Table of The Number of Days, Each Month, 0°F or Below for each Winter Season

 Winter Seasons 1887-1888 thru 2024-2025
.

SeasonNovDecJanFebMarTotals
2024-25003  3
2023-24008008
2022-23050207
2021-22006309
2020-2102013015
2019-20001102
2018-190055313
2017-180476017
2016-17024006
2015-16004004
2014-150247114
2013-1404106222
2012-13011204
2011-12020204
2010-110253010
2009-100682016
2008-090660113
2007-08017109
2006-07002608
2005-06060208
2004-050281011
2003-040174012
2002-03003407
2001-02010326
2000-010925016
1999-00020002
1998-99025007
1997-98002035
1996-9703100013
1995-9601104318
1994-950260210
1993-940087015
1992-930286016
1991-92201003
1990-9108100018
1989-9001301014
1988-89000909
1987-880086014
1986-87100001
1985-860835016
1984-850069015
1983-8401470122
1982-83000303
1981-8204168230
1980-81020305
1979-800245112
1978-79021914035
1977-78032010336
1976-7729162029
1975-761270010
1974-750143210
1973-7405120017
1972-730981018
1971-72007209
1970-71005409
1969-7002100012
1968-69035109
1967-68014106
1966-67013105
1965-66008109
1964-652354014
1963-6401120013
1962-6303131017
1961-6207103121
1960-61016108
1959-600034310
1958-59005207
1957-58001304
1956-57005005
1955-56013206
1954-55002305
1953-54008008
1952-53022004
1951-5201140116
1950-5103103016
1949-500092011
1948-490584118
1947-480086418
1946-470343010
1945-46062008
1944-45123006
1943-440343010
1942-430150410
1941-420391013
1940-41220004
1939-4001232026
1938-39000606
1937-38033208
1936-3701121014
1935-36011319033
1934-35014005
1933-34010304
1932-330707014
1931-32005128
1930-31000000
1929-3002110013
1928-290077014
1927-28053008
1926-27031105
1925-26032005
1924-2501021013
1923-2401112014
1922-23020226
1921-220263011
1920-21040004
1919-200901111
1918-19014106
1917-18012136031
1916-170844117
1915-1600127120
1914-150760013
1913-14000516
1912-130074213
1911-1203162122
1910-11005005
1909-100955019
1908-090173011
1907-08000202
1906-07002406
1905-06001326
1904-0502914025
1903-040383014
1902-03031408
1901-020856019
1900-01011305
1899-000036110
1898-9935516029
1897-98160108
1896-972072112
1895-96002002
1894-9502109122
1893-940176014
1892-930567018
1891-920190010
1890-91000538
1889-9000125219
1888-890028010
1887-8836187236
TOTALS20364751435631633
SeasonNovDecJanFebMarTotals


 

11.  Ranking winters with the Most days 0°F or below

Top 15 Winter Seasons with Most Number of Days 0°F or Lower
Winter Seasons 1887-1888 through 2023-2024
 

Season

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

TOTAL

RANK

1977-78

0

3

20

10

3

36

1

1887-88

3

6

18

7

2

36

1

1978-79

0

2

19

14

0

35

3

1935-36

0

1

13

19

0

33

4

1917-18

0

12

13

6

0

31

5

1981-82

0

4

16

8

2

30

6

1976-77

2

9

16

2

0

29

7

1898-99

3

5

5

16

0

29

7

1939-40

0

1

23

2

0

26

9

1904-05

0

2

9

14

0

25

10

2013-14

0

4

10

6

2

22

11

1983-84

0

14

7

0

1

22

11

1911-12

0

3

16

2

1

22

11

1894-95

3

2

10

9

1

22

11

2013-14

0

4

10

6

1

21

15

1961-62

0

7

10

3

1

21

15

 

 

12.  Graph: Number of Days, each Winter Season, 0oF or Below, 1887-88 to 2020-21


The 137 winter seasons (1887-88 thru 2023-24) average is 11.9 days.
The new 30-year (1991-2020) seasonal average is 10.2 days.
The old 30-year (1981-2010) seasonal average  is 11.6 days.
The most recent 20 seasons (2001-2020) average is 10.1 days

Winter season with the most number of days: 1887-1888, and 1977-78 with 36 days
Winter season with the least number of days: 1930-31 with 0 days

RECENT Winter seasons:
Winter season 2022-23:  7  days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2021-22:  9 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2020-21: 15 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2019-20: 2 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2018-19: 13 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2017-18: 17 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2016-17: 8 days with temperatures falling to 0°F or below
Winter season 2015-16: 4 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2014-15: 14 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2013-14: 22 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2012-13: 4 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2011-12: 4 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2010-11: 10 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower
Winter season 2009-10: 16 days with temperatures falling to 0oF or lower

________________________________________________________________


13.  Graph: Annual Number of Days, each Year, 0oF or Below, 1887 to 2021

Graph will be updated soon

annual number of days with lows below zero

 

 

 

NOTE:  All data on this page are from the National Weather Service and HPRCC data archives. 



External to this Site: NWS Omaha/Valley Winter Weather page