Lincoln’s July rainfall topped normal, but year-to-date total remains below average

Lincoln received 4.33 inches of precipitation in July 2026, exceeding the month’s normal of 3.25 inches, according to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s August climate update.

That above-normal July did not fully close the city’s precipitation gap for the year. From Jan. 1 through July 31, Lincoln recorded 17.15 inches of precipitation, compared with a normal total of 18.50 inches for the same period. The year-to-date total was 1.35 inches below normal.

July was above normal

July’s total was 1.08 inches higher than the listed monthly normal. The figures are observations reported in the university climate update, not a forecast for August or an assessment of current drought or flood conditions.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln page says its climate data are drawn from National Weather Service and High Plains Regional Climate Center archives. The update was published Aug. 1 and covers precipitation recorded through July 31.

Year-to-date total remains short of normal

Although Lincoln’s January-through-July precipitation was below its 18.50-inch normal, it was higher than the 14.27 inches recorded during the same period in 2025. The difference underscores that a wetter-than-normal month and a below-normal year-to-date total can occur at the same time.

The precipitation departure alone does not establish drought conditions or indicate whether any particular neighborhood faces flooding. It also does not show whether July rainfall changed local water-quality or flood risks.

Climate risks remain part of city planning

The City of Lincoln identifies flooding, drought and extreme heat as major climate-related risks for the community. Its Resilient Lincoln program links to the city’s 2026 Climate Action Plan Progress Report and notes flood and water-quality protection planning.

Those city-identified risks are longer-term planning concerns, not an immediate weather warning. The July precipitation report provides a local measure of conditions entering August, while the city’s planning materials address how Lincoln prepares for hazards that can occur under different weather patterns.

No final daily temperature observations for Aug. 3 were provided on the available climate page. The next monthly climate update would provide the subsequent precipitation comparison after August data are compiled.