Winter sunset in Buffalo County, (Brian Neben, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND — Central Nebraska saw the warmest December on record in 2025 with an average temperature for each day running in mid-30s.
According to the National Weather Service – Hastings, between Dec. 4, 2025, and Jan. 4, 2026, Grand Island saw an overall average temperature of 35.6 degrees, with an average high temperature of 48.8 and low temperature of 22.3 degrees.
This one-month stretch average 7.4 degrees above normal, high temperatures reached at least 50 degrees on 16 days and at least 60 on nine days. Temperatures even reached 70 degrees on Dec. 26.
There were a few colder days, but these only failed to reach 30 degrees.
The last warmest period was between Dec. 4, 1991, and Jan. 4, 1992, that saw an overall average temperature of 34.8 degrees.
Compared to other Decembers, last year’s was driven by warm daytime highs than mild overnight lows.
Down in Hastings, the overall average temperature was 36.1 degrees, with an average high temperature of 49.2 and average low temperature of 23.1 degrees. This was 7.6 degrees above normal.
The second warmest December was Dec. 4, 1957, and Jan. 4, 1958, with an average temperature of 3.48 degrees.
