Independence Day Weather History/Extremes for Grand Island, NE (1896-2023)

Independence Day occurs early 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°! This story features a wealth of Independence Day weather and climate information focused specifically on Grand Island, where weather records date back 128 years to 1896.

Temperatures: 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-128 Independence Days on record (12%) have featured high temperatures of 100° of higher, and five of these were during the infamously-hot 1930s. However, a 100° reading did occur just two years ago in 2022 (the first since 2012).

Rainfall: The wettest Independence Day on record was way back in 1902 with 2.56". However, only 3-of-128 holidays featured more than 1" of rain (and not since 1.53" in 1984"). Measurable amounts (0.01" or more) have been recorded in 35-of-128 years (27% of the time). The 0.46" that fell during the very early morning hours two years ago in 2022 actually marked the first measurable rain on Independence Day at Central Nebraska Regional Airport in 12 years (since 0.47" in 2010). 

Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes (recent past): Just two years ago, Independence Day 2022 went down in the history books for featuring a climatologically-rare, very-early morning EF-1 rated tornado...that 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 1251 AM CDT 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. 
 

** 2023 Independence Day Recap for Grand Island (far less "eventful" than 2022) **

Compared to what happened one year prior when Independence Day 2022 featured a climatologically-rare, very-early morning EF-1 rated tornado that skirted the southeast fringes of Grand Island...the holiday weather on July 4, 2023 was far more mundane. All in all, it was simply a seasonably-warm and fairly humid summer day under sunny to partly cloudy skies, featuring an afternoon high temperature of 94°, following an early morning low of 69° (note: the official calendar-day low of 68° did not occur until very late in the evening).

Precipitation-wise, the vast majority of the calendar day was dry, with only a brief period of non-measurable rain/sprinkles detected at Central Nebraska Regional Airport around 11 PM. However, one did not have to travel very far south to find a very stormy/rainy evening, as a nearly solid, west-east oriented axis of thunderstorms (some severe) set up shop only 30-50 miles south-southeast of Grand Island especially between 7-10 PM. Also during the evening, a seasonably-strong cold front swept in from the north, turning winds northerly and quite gusty for a time (including a peak gust of 40 MPH at 720 PM). SIDE NOTE: this cold front brought much cooler/less humid conditions into the area for the 5th, as the high temperature only reached 78°.

Independence Day Normals/Extremes for Grand Island (1896-2023):

The Most Recent 10 Independence Days in Grand Island (2014-2023):