A significant heat wave continues for the Rockies, Northern Plains, and Great Lakes into the Mid-Atlantic, peaking in intensity through midweek and lingering across parts of the Northern Plains and Midwest until this weekend. Excessive rainfall my bring life-threatening and locally catastrophic flash and urban flooding across portions of southwestern Texas through early Friday. Read More >
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 75° to 102°! This story features a wealth of Independence Day weather and climate information focused specifically on Grand Island, where weather records date back 130 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 14-of-130 Independence Days on record (11%) have featured high temperatures of 100° of higher, and five of these were during the infamously-hot 1930s. However, a 100° reading did occur four 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-130 holidays featured more than 1" of rain (and not since 1.53" in 1984"). Measurable amounts (0.01" or more) have been recorded in 37-of-130 years (28% of the time).
Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes (recent past): Four 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.
** 2025 Independence Day Recap for Grand Island (brief late afternoon/evening thundershowers) **
Although it was not enough rain or long-lasting enough to "wash out" outdoor activities, Independence Day 2025 did feature a round of late afternoon-early evening thundershowers (mainly 530-630 PM), followed by another brief round of light rain mainly between 8-9 PM. Prior to any precipitation moving in, it was a rather "normal" summer day...with an afternoon high temperature of 87° and an early-morning low of 70°. Also prior to the arrival of late-day rain, most of the day was fairly breezy out of the south, with sustained speeds commonly 15-20 MPH and gusts as high as 25-30 MPH.
| Date | High Temp | Low Temp |
Rainfall | Weather Basics |
| 7/5/2025 | 87° | 70° | 0.15" |
weak thundershowers late afternoon/evening |
Independence Day Normals/Extremes for Grand Island (1896-2025):
| Grand Island NE | High Temp | Low Temp | Rainfall |
| 30-Year Climate "NORMALS" (1991-2020) | 88° | 65° | 0.12" |
| 10-Year AVERAGES (2016-2025) | 89.1° | 68.0° | 0.06" |
| Grand Island All-Time Independence Day Records (Since 1896) |
|
| Top 5 HOTTEST HIGHS |
Top 5 COOLEST HIGHS |
Top 5 COOLEST LOWS |
Top 5 WARMEST LOWS |
Top 5 Wettest |
| 109° (1936) | 70° (1915) | 48° (1997) | 80° (1934) | 2.56" (1902) |
| 106° (1978) | 71° (1972) | 49° (1903) | 75° (2012) | 1.53" (1984) |
| 105° (1901) | 73° (1995) | 51° (1967) | 75° (1999) | 1.42" (1962) |
| 104° (1938) | 75° (1997) | 51° (1924) | 75° (1978) | 0.89" (1921) |
| 104° (1937) | 75° (1967) | 52° (1970) | 75° (1955) | 0.84" (2000) |
| When is the last time _______ happened on Independence Day In Grand Island? |
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| Independence Day Over The LAST 30 YEARS...Since 1996 |
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Recent History...The Last 10 Independence Days in Grand Island (2016-2025):
| Date | High Temp | Low Temp |
Rainfall | Weather Basics |
| 7/4/2016 | 80° | 62° | Trace | Cloudy through 6 PM...then clear |
| 7/4/2017 | 89° | 68° | 0.00" | Nice day...south-southeast wind 10-15 MPH |
| 7/4/2018 | 91° | 71° | 0.00" | Sunny day...late-night storms (early AM of 5th) |
| 7/4/2019 | 88° | 67° | Trace | Brief AM drizzle...then nice afternoon |
| 7/4/2020 | 88° | 69° | 0.00" | Nice day...light east-southeast breeze |
| 7/4/2021 | 93° | 70° | 0.00" | Mostly sunny, steady south breeze |
| 7/4/2022 | 100° | 74° | 0.46" |
- daytime hours hot/humid, breezy and dry - early AM TORNADO (EF-1) skirted far SE edge of city! |
| 7/4/2023 | 94° | 68° | Trace | seasonably hot/humid day...late evening sprinkles |
| 7/4/2024 | 81° | 61° | 0.01" | coolest holiday in 8 years...a few AM rain showers |
| 7/4/2025 | 87° | 70° | 0.15" | weak thundershowers late afternoon/evening |
| 10-Yr Averages | 89.1° | 68.0° | 0.06" |
For more local climate information, check out the following website:
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