Independence Day Weather History/Extremes for Grand Island, NE (1896-2024)

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°! 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.

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-129 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 three 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-129 holidays featured more than 1" of rain (and not since 1.53" in 1984"). Measurable amounts (0.01" or more) have been recorded in 36-of-129 years (28% of the time).

Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadoes (recent past): Three 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. 
 

** 2024 Independence Day Recap for Grand Island (a little breezy...but overall great!) **

Other than most of the day being a little breezier than typical for July (northwest winds commonly 10-20 MPH/gusts 20-30), there was overall-little to complain about on Independence Day 2024...especially considering that winds eased to under 10 MPH by 8pm (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° at Central Nebraska Regional Airport, following a morning low of 62° (note: the official calendar-day low of 61° did not occur until very late in the evening). In fact, the high of 81° marked the holiday's coolest high temperature in Grand Island in 8 years (since 80° 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 715-815 AM...totaling merely 0.01". 

Independence Day Normals/Extremes for Grand Island (1896-2024):

The 10 Most Recent Independence Days in Grand Island (2015-2024):