A grackle looks to have a quick snack at a bird feeder on Monday at Holmes Lake Park. A review of weather conditions over the past 30 years established new normals for Lincoln that are hotter and wetter than the previous standards.
Like much of the rest of the country, Lincoln got hotter over the past decade.
It also got wetter — and snowier.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday released its new climate normals that show many areas of the U.S. got much warmer over the past 10 years.
The 10-year climate normals actually reflect a 30-year period, with updates every decade. The new numbers released Tuesday reflect the period from 1991-2020.
More than 90% of the U.S. has warmer normal temperatures now than it did 10 years ago, said Michael Palecki, NOAA’s normals project manager.
Lincoln actually warmed slightly faster than the U.S. as a whole. From 1981-2010, the average temperature for the National Weather Service monitoring station at the Lincoln Airport was 51.5 degrees. From 1991-2020, it rose to 52.3 degrees. Compared with the 1971-2001 period, the average temperature has risen 1.1 degrees.
Nebraska State Climatologist Martha Shulski said Lincoln’s climate is mirroring what the rest of the state is seeing.
“Overall, much of Nebraska is getting increasingly warmer and wetter,” she said. “Moving the window of the climate normal reflects and captures this trend.”
While every month was warmer over the past 10 years in Lincoln, there was some pretty wide variation.
December was the month with the biggest rise, with its average temperature climbing a full 2 degrees, from 26.8 to 28.8. Other months that saw big increases were September, 1.2 degrees; and March and June, at 1.1 degrees.
August was the month with the smallest increase, with its average going from 75.3 to 75.6. January and April both saw their averages rise 0.4 degrees, while February and July both saw increases of 0.5 degrees.
The patterns are not as clear cut when it comes to precipitation, however.
Though Lincoln’s average annual precipitation grew by 0.41 inches, from 28.93 inches to 29.34 inches, the distribution was uneven. In fact, May accounted for all of that increase, and more. The average rainfall in May grew from 4.29 inches from 1981-2010 to 4.91 inches from 1991-2020.
March saw its monthly average precipitation drop from 1.93 inches to 1.55 inches. April, July, August, September and November also saw declines.
The general trend was wetter winters, drier early springs, wetter late springs, drier summers and slightly drier falls.
The wetter winters were driven by an increase in snow in January and February. Those two months average 13.6 inches in the 1991-2020 period, up significantly from 11 inches in the 1981-2010 period.
Conversely, Lincoln saw much less snow on average in November, December and March. The average snowfall for March alone fell from 4.8 inches to 3.4 inches.
Overall, Lincoln’s annual average snowfall rose slightly, from 25.9 inches to 26 inches.
Shulski said that climate models show the trends are likely to continue.
“Based on climate model projections, I expect future normals to continue shifting in the direction of overall warmer and wetter,” she said.
Photos: Major snow event in Lincoln
Chih-Chung Lee uses a shovel to clear snow from his vehicle on South 37th Street on Tuesday, a day after 14.5 inches of snow was dumped on Lincoln.
Heavy snow blankets a vehicle on C Street on Tuesday, a day after 14.5 inches of snow was dumped on Lincoln.
Friends and neighbors Simon Minchow (left) and Jacob Dostal clear driveways on Tuesday, a day after 14.5 inches of snow was dumped on Lincoln.
Dana Wittstruck and her dog Ozzy walk down a snow-covered South 37th Street near Randolph Elementary School on Tuesday, a day after 14.5 inches of snow was dumped on Lincoln.
Brent Vogner takes to the slopes on Tuesday at Holmes Lake Park following a snowstorm that produced over 14 inches of snow on Monday.
Bryson Hopkins grins as he rides down the powdery fluff on Tuesday at Holmes Lake Park following a snowstorm that produced over 14 inches of snow on Monday.
Riding a inflatable snow tube, Gus McCabe goes airborne after going over a hill ramp on Tuesday at Holmes Lake Park following a snowstorm which produced over 14 inches of snow on Monday.
Riding a inflatable snow tube, Gus McCabe goes airborne and lands awkwardly but safely after going over a hill ramp on Tuesday at Holmes Lake Park following a snowstorm that produced over 14 inches of snow on Monday. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Ava Tran goes head-first down the launch ramp and into the snow on Tuesday at Pioneers Park following a snowstorm that produced over 14 inches of snow on Monday.
Carter McPeak gets airborne after taking off on a hill ramp on Tuesday at Holmes Lake Park following a snowstorm that produced over 14 inches of snow on Monday.
Riding a inflatable snow tube, Gus McCabe goes airborne after going over a hill ramp on Tuesday at Holmes Lake Park following a snowstorm that produced over 14 inches of snow on Monday.
Snow aficionados climb through the deep, powdery fluff to return to the top of the hill for a round of snowboarding on Tuesday at Holmes Lake Park following a snowstorm that produced over 14 inches of snow on Monday.
The parking lot of the former Shopko at 27th Street and Nebraska 2 is one of the sites of the overflowing remnants of snow that fell in the Lincoln area.
A snow-covered picnic banch sits in the pristine snow awaiting a warmer day on Tuesday at Pioneers Park following a snowstorm that produced over 14 inches of snow on Monday.
Monday’s snowstorm of more than 14 inches produced a deep, powdery base for snowboarders to enjoy on Tuesday at Holmes Lake Park.
A truck is seen covered in snow Tuesday.
Cars are seen moving along South 17th Street next to snowbanks Tuesday after Lincoln received more than a foot of snow.
Art Coleman takes a pause as he digs out his car after a snowstorm Tuesday.
Tayvian Newcomb, 12, goes to work to remove snow at the driveway with a shovel — his surprise Christmas present — on Tuesday.
A man carries a snow shovel and a portable gas tank along South 17th Street on Tuesday following a snowstorm that dropped more than a foot of snow in Lincoln.
Jesus Roque works to dig out his car before a grocery run on Tuesday. While many businesses and organizations shut down rather than have employees struggle to get in, many health care workers either spent the night at their workplaces or got rides from coworkers with all-wheel drive vehicles.
Tayvian Newcomb, 12, goes to work to remove snow at the driveway with a shovel — his surprise Christmas present — on Tuesday.
Paul Lohnes digs out his car Tuesday after a snowstorm.
A car is seen stuck in a snow bank Tuesday, a day after Lincoln received more than a foot of snow.
A snow plow travels on South 13th Street on Tuesday.
People work to free their cars in a street covered by snow Tuesday.
Workers try their best to keep snow from piling up during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday.
LINCOLN, NEB. – 01/25/2021 – A woman passes a snowed in car in front of the Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday, January 25, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Traffic on South 27th Street moves in the snowstorm, Monday.
Snow blankets downtown Lincoln with 10 inches of snow Monday.
A Star Tran bus passes through the I-180 on-ramp during a snowstorm Monday.
Snow blankets the Haymarket in January. The Lincoln Airport reported 49.4 inches of snow this season, nearly double what falls in an average winter.
A car is seen stranded on the North 10th Street viaduct in front of Memorial Stadium during a winter storm on Monday.
Lincoln Public School school buses are seen idle at the LPS transportation lot Monday. School was called off Monday and Tuesday because of a snowstorm.
The I-180 on ramp is seen covered with snow during a winter storm on Monday.
A car is seen buried under snow as a winter storm system dumped 10 inches of snow near on Monday.
A snowplow drives past West Van Dorn Street as a Lincoln Police cruiser blocks off the street due to an accident involving a train on Monday.
People push a car stuck at the intersection of 13th and O streets during a winter storm on Monday.
People help push a car stuck at the intersection of 13th and O streets during a winter storm in Lincoln on Monday.
A pedestrian steps in tire tracks while crossing the downtown street during a winter storm on Monday.
A road grader clears snow in downtown Lincoln during a winter storm on Monday.
Someone walks in the middle of South 13th Street to avoid walking on uncleared sidewalks during a winter storm on Monday.
A worker tries to keep the sidewalks clear as snow continues to pile up in downtown Lincoln during a winter storm on Monday.
Snow piles up on a construction vehicle parked in downtown Lincoln during a winter storm on Monday.
A woman uses an umbrella to keep the snow off of her while walking on North 13th Street during a winter storm on Monday.
A walker and his dog head up P Street to avoid the sidewalks during a winter storm on Monday.
A tractor plows snow to the side of South 13th Street during a winter storm on Monday.
Good Samaritans stop to help dig out a stuck car along 13th Street during a winter storm on Monday.
Phi Gamma Delta fraternity members ride mattresses along the street in front of the UNL Union during a winter storm on Monday.
Phi Gamma Delta fraternity members pull mattresses along the street in front of the UNL Union during a winter storm on Monday.
Phi Gamma Delta fraternity members ride mattresses along the street in front of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Union during a winter storm on Monday.
A StarTran driver tries to clear snow drift from in front of his bus in downtown Lincoln during a winter storm on Monday.
LINCOLN, NEB. – 01/25/2021 – A StarTran bus gets stuck at an intersection on 11th street during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday, January 25, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star.
Snow piles up on an unswept table on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus during a winter storm on Monday.
A road grader clears O Street of snow during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday.
Snow collects and melts off of Taylor McClintock as he clears the steps in front of the Grand Manse during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday.
Murray, a 13-year-old corgi, relaxes in the snow while his owner clears their sidewalk during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday.
Someone makes their way along a recently cleared sidewalk during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday.
Someone waits to cross the street during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday.
People cross O Street in limited visibility conditions during a winter storm in downtown Lincoln on Monday.
JeSean Morris uses a hand scraper to clear snow and ice off of his car in downtown Lincoln during a winter storm Monday.
Judith Andre pauses shoveling her sidewalk for a quick portrait in downtown Lincoln during a winter storm on Monday.
A man, who did not give his name, clears the sidewalk using a snowblower in downtown Lincoln during a winter storm on Monday.
Streets and downtown Lincoln were empty with few people or cars during a winter storm on Monday.
With heavy snow coming down, a man runs across O Street during a winter storm on Monday.
Abbey Johnson scrapes her windshield in a winter storm on Monday.
Aud Koch removes snow in front of the Nebraska State Capitol on Monday.
Duane Wunderlich shovels snow off a sidewalk during a winter storm on Monday.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.