Elk Creek, NE climate
Elk Creek has cold winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 26 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Elk Creek feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Elk Creek weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 36° | 14° | 0.5" | 6.8" | 3 | 13 | 16° – 38° |
| February | 40° | 17° | 0.6" | 6.1" | 4 | 11 | 18° – 37° |
| March | 52° | 26° | 1.4" | 3.7" | 6 | 4 | 31° – 51° |
| April | 61° | 36° | 2.7" | 1.2" | 8 | 1 | 41° – 54° |
| May | 71° | 46° | 4.2" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 52° – 64° |
| June | 82° | 57° | 4.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 64° – 75° |
| July | 86° | 62° | 3.5" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 68° – 80° |
| August | 84° | 60° | 3.2" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 67° – 77° |
| September | 78° | 51° | 2.1" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 58° – 70° |
| October | 64° | 37° | 1.9" | 1.7" | 5 | 0 | 43° – 56° |
| November | 50° | 25° | 1.0" | 1.6" | 4 | 3 | 27° – 45° |
| December | 38° | 17° | 0.6" | 4.8" | 3 | 10 | 18° – 33° |
| Year | 62° | 37° | 25.6" | 25.9" | 72 | 41 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Elk Creek
Elk Creek gets 26 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 72 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 41 days of the year.
About 153 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 3 and the first one by October 5. That leaves about 153 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 78% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Elk Creek
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Elk Creek, 88% of that work is heating and 12% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Elk Creek and its neighbors
Elk Creek borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.9°. Algernon has the coldest January nights (13°) and Loup the hottest July afternoons (87°). Elk Creek’s January low is 14° and its July high 86°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Elk Creek compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Elk Creek averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.2°). The shift is smaller than in 67% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Elk Creek’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 16° to 38°. August is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Common questions about Elk Creek’s climate
What is the coldest month in Elk Creek?
January, with a typical high of 36° and a low of 14°.
What is the hottest month in Elk Creek?
July, with a typical high of 86° and a low of 62°. About 34 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Elk Creek get?
About 26 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Elk Creek?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 5, and the last spring frost by May 3.
What is the rainiest month in Elk Creek?
May, with 4.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 26 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Elk Creek itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Mason City, NE (8 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.