Lawrence, NE climate
Lawrence has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 23 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Lawrence feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Lawrence 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37° | 15° | 0.6" | 5.5" | 3 | 18° – 38° |
| February | 41° | 19° | 0.7" | 6.0" | 3 | 20° – 39° |
| March | 53° | 28° | 1.5" | 3.8" | 5 | 32° – 53° |
| April | 64° | 38° | 2.5" | 1.2" | 7 | 43° – 57° |
| May | 74° | 49° | 4.5" | 0 | 9 | 55° – 67° |
| June | 84° | 60° | 3.8" | 0 | 7 | 66° – 76° |
| July | 88° | 64° | 4.1" | 0 | 7 | 71° – 81° |
| August | 86° | 63° | 3.4" | 0 | 6 | 69° – 80° |
| September | 79° | 53° | 2.3" | 0 | 5 | 60° – 72° |
| October | 66° | 40° | 2.1" | 1.9" | 5 | 45° – 58° |
| November | 51° | 28° | 1.2" | 1.7" | 4 | 31° – 47° |
| December | 39° | 18° | 0.9" | 3.1" | 3 | 19° – 33° |
| Year | 64° | 40° | 27.4" | 23.2" | 63 |
“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 Lawrence
Lawrence gets 27 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and January the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 63 days a year.
About 181 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 19 and the first one by October 20. That leaves about 181 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 54% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Lawrence
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Lawrence, 84% of that work is heating and 16% 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.
How Lawrence 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 Lawrence averaged 1.0° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.7°). The shift is smaller than in 69% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Lawrence’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. March swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 32° to 53°. June is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Common questions about Lawrence’s climate
What is the coldest month in Lawrence?
January, with a typical high of 37° and a low of 15°.
What is the hottest month in Lawrence?
July, with a typical high of 88° and a low of 64°. About 34 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Lawrence get?
About 23 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.
When is the first frost in Lawrence?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 20, and the last spring frost by April 19.
What is the rainiest month in Lawrence?
May, with 4.5 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 27 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Lawrence itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Deweese 4 Se, NE (11 mi, snow) and Clay Ctr, NE (19 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.