Crisp start to a top-10 day in Nebraska

Wednesday morning brought a bit of fog and cooler air to start the day, the worst of it well off to our north. Temperatures were in the upper 40s around sunrise, adding to several other dates we’ve managed to see cooler mornings.

The last time we saw 40s for a morning low was September 17th, about 10 days ago.

Wednesday also starts our string of average temperatures now in the 40s!

That cooler start is going to lead to what we are calling a top-10 day. Expect today to be the epitome of great weather. Temperatures will be in the middle 60s by lunchtime, and only warm to the upper 70s for a high.

But after Wednesday, we’re in for quite the warm up. We are talking 90s returning to the forecast, which isn’t out of the norm for September. Based on an average from the past 30 years, we usually see about five days in September get to about 90°, if not hotter.

So far in 2023, Lincoln has already recorded six days over 90 degrees in September. It’s possible that number grows before we welcome October. In fact, three of the last four years had 10+ days over 90 degrees in September.

What isn’t normal? Seeing temperatures like this in LATE September and early October. It’s rare.

And not only are we expecting this heat wave by the weekend, but we could also be setting new records, too – if not getting pretty close. Records each day for Friday through Sunday are right at 94°, with each day creeping closer to that value, especially on Saturday.

Temperatures for the rest of the week will be far above the averages for the end of September by about 10-15 degrees, if not more. It’ll be a hot stretch before we see more of the fall feels by the end of next week.

The dry stretch also continues through this period, with small chances to see rain in north and northeast Nebraska by the end of this week. Better chances for us come by Tuesday.

Meteorologist Jessica Blum 
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