Frost Dates for 68526 — Lincoln, Nebraska

Half of springs at Lincoln 8 ENE, NE see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 13, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 11 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 84% of the 68 Nebraska stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 10 in half of years, as early as September 25 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 5 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, shorter than at 50% of the 68 Nebraska stations; it reaches 184 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 one year in ten. On average 146 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 7 days longer, to about May 4, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 16 and March 18.

July is the warmest month at Lincoln 8 ENE, NE, averaging 87°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 14°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,429 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 71% of the 68 Nebraska stations. 36% of them (1,218) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 806. Precipitation totals 32.4 inches a year, most in May (4.8") and least in January (0.9"); May to September bring 62% of it.

The nearest other station, Lincoln Municipal Airport, NE, 11 miles northwest of Lincoln, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 24), a first frost 3 days later (October 13), a season 7 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lincoln usually arrives around November 19, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hickman, NE, 8.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 68526 is 8 miles from Lincoln 8 ENE, NE, which stands at 1,189 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 10 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 68516 (Lincoln). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 68526 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.