Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today
GRAND ISLAND — Independence Day ushers in our climatologically-hottest month of the year – July.
The majority of Independence Days in the Nebraska Tri Cities feature afternoon high temperatures between the mid-80s and low-90s, while morning low temperatures typically settle somewhere in the 60s.
However, even in a summer weather pattern (typically less variable than other seasons), some holidays still exhibit notable departures from “average” conditions.
For example: just in the last 30 years, Independence Day highs in Grand Island have ranged from 73 to 102 degrees. This story features a wealth of Independence Day weather and climate information focused specifically on Grand Island, where weather records date back 129 years to 1896.
Temperature
According to the entire period of record, the hottest Independence Day on record was 109 in 1936, and the coolest daytime high was 70 in 1915. As for low temperatures, the chilliest on record was 48 in 1997, and the warmest was 80 in 1934.
Only 15-of-129 Independence Days on record (12 percent) have featured high temperatures of 100 of higher, and five of these were during the infamously hot 1930s. However, a 100-degree reading did occur three years ago in 2022, the first since 2012.
Rainfall
The wettest Independence Day on record was way back in 1902 with 2.56 inches. However, only 3-of-129 holidays featured more than one inch of rain (and not since 1.53 inches in 1984). Measurable amounts (0.01 inches or more) have been recorded in 36-of-129 years (28 percent of the time).
Severe Thunderstorms, Tornadoes
Three years ago, Independence Day 2022 went down in the history books for featuring a climatologically rare, very-early morning EF-1 rated tornado.
It abruptly emerged from the cover of darkness and carved out a nearly 10-mile path through Hall/Merrick counties, damaging over a half dozen homes, destroying several outbuildings and snapping a number of power poles along the way (fortunately no reported injuries).
This tornado first touched down at 12:51 a.m. near the extreme southeastern fringes of Grand Island (near South Locust St. and Schimmer Drive), and lifted about 19 minutes later approximately four miles south-southwest of Chapman in Merrick County.
2024 Independence Day Recap
Other than most of the day being a little breezier than typical for July (northwest winds commonly 10-20 mph, with gusts up to 20-30 mph, there was overall-little to complain about on Independence Day 2024, especially considering that winds eased to under 10 mph by 8 p.m. (in time for the main evening festivities).
Temperature-wise, it was a modestly-cooler-than-normal day (and noticeably cooler than 2023) with an afternoon high temperature of only 81 degrees at Central Nebraska Regional Airport, following a morning low of 62 degree. In fact, the high of 81 degrees marked the holiday’s coolest high temperature in Grand Island in eight years (since 80 degrees in 2016).
Precipitation-wise, the vast majority of the calendar day was dry, with only a brief period of passing light showers sweeping through in the morning, mainly between 7:15-815 a.m., totaling merely 0.01 inches.
