The best times to visit Lincoln for ideal weather are

April 30th to July 1st

or

August 13th to October 21st

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Lincoln Travel Info

Weather in Lincoln

Temperature

Average temperatures in Lincoln vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 39th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Lincoln, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 87.8°F (31°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 65.7°F (18.7°C) at night.

Lincoln Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Lincoln Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Lincoln Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Lincoln Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Lincoln Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 35.8 26.3 18.3
Feb 36.9 27.3 19.3
Mar 54.7 42.4 33.2
Apr 67.1 54.1 43
May 77.2 65.1 54.1
Jun 84.8 73.5 63.1
Jul 86.4 75.2 64.7
Aug 86.3 74.1 63
Sep 80.4 66.9 55.5
Oct 67.7 54.9 44.3
Nov 53.8 42.7 33.4
Dec 40.7 32.5 25.3

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 2.1 -3.2 -7.6
Feb 2.7 -2.6 -7.1
Mar 12.6 5.8 0.7
Apr 19.5 12.3 6.1
May 25.1 18.4 12.3
Jun 29.3 23.1 17.3
Jul 30.2 24 18.2
Aug 30.2 23.4 17.2
Sep 26.9 19.4 13.1
Oct 19.8 12.7 6.8
Nov 12.1 5.9 0.8
Dec 4.8 0.3 -3.7

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Lincoln are October, September, and then July. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid July. For example, on the week of July 16th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late April with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of April 23rd.

When can you find snow in Lincoln? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Lincoln.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Lincoln (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 9% 0 1.1
Feb 13% 0 1.4
Mar 14% 0 1.5
Apr 19% 0 2.8
May 12% 0 1.5
Jun 20% 0 3.9
Jul 9% 0 2
Aug 9% 0 1.5
Sep 7% 0 2.4
Oct 5% 0 1.2
Nov 10% 0 1.3
Dec 18% 0 2.7

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 9 0 2.8
Feb 13 0 3.6
Mar 14 0 3.8
Apr 19 0 7.1
May 12 0 3.8
Jun 20 0 9.9
Jul 9 0 5.1
Aug 9 0 3.8
Sep 7 0 6.1
Oct 5 0 3
Nov 10 0 3.3
Dec 18 0 6.9

 

Humidity and Wind

Lincoln has some very humid months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is April (52.8% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (75.3%).

Wind in Lincoln is usually calm. The windiest month is April, followed by March and February. April’s average wind speed of around 7.1 knots (8.1 MPH or 13.1 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early April where average top sustained speeds reach 15.3 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Lincoln.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 6.3 Light breeze 12.8 Significant breeze
Feb 6.4 Light breeze 13 Significant breeze
Mar 6.8 Light breeze 14 Significant breeze
Apr 7.1 Gentle breeze 14.9 Significant breeze
May 5.7 Light breeze 13.2 Significant breeze
Jun 4.4 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
Jul 3 Barely noticeable 8.9 Significant breeze
Aug 2.9 Barely noticeable 8.8 Gentle breeze
Sep 3.6 Barely noticeable 9.7 Significant breeze
Oct 4.8 Light breeze 11 Significant breeze
Nov 6.2 Light breeze 12.7 Significant breeze
Dec 6.1 Light breeze 12.3 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 67.6%
Feb 66.7%
Mar 61.4%
Apr 52.8%
May 54.6%
Jun 60.4%
Jul 63.5%
Aug 63.6%
Sep 60.3%
Oct 58.3%
Nov 63%
Dec 75.3%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Lincoln?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Lincoln, IL, US is July, followed by June and August. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Lincoln in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 38.7 in November means 38.7% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Lincoln Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 82°F (27.8°C) and 40.8°F (4.9°C) with far warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 4 to 6 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see moderate precipitation with 3 to 6 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Lincoln, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 83°F (28.3°C) and 46.3°F (7.9°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 2 to 3 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in Lincoln to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 41°F (5°C) and 34.5°F (1.4°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 3 to 5 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Lincoln, IL, US