Omaha, NE — Nebraska is shaping up for an unusually warm transition from 2025 into 2026, with forecasts pointing to near-record temperatures during the final days of December and the first days of the New Year. As of Saturday, December 20, long-range outlooks suggest that the December 27 through January 2 period could feel far more like late fall than mid-winter across much of the state.
According to the NOAA Climate Prediction Center, Nebraska sits within a broad swath of the central United States favored for above-normal temperatures. A persistent upper-level ridge is expected to dominate the Plains, limiting the southward push of Arctic air and allowing milder Pacific air to spread eastward.
In Omaha, where average highs for late December typically hover near the low 30s, daytime temperatures could climb into the 40s and even low 50s around New Year’s. Several days may approach or challenge daily record highs if cloud cover breaks and winds turn southerly ahead of passing systems. Overnight lows are also expected to stay above normal, reducing the likelihood of prolonged freezing conditions.
While the warmth may be welcome for travel and outdoor plans, it also comes with tradeoffs. Snow chances appear limited during this stretch, and any precipitation that does fall is more likely to be rain. The lack of snow cover could also allow temperatures to fluctuate sharply from day to day as weather systems pass through.
Looking beyond the New Year, the pattern shows little sign of changing quickly. The January 3–16, 2026 outlook continues to favor above-normal temperatures across Nebraska, suggesting the state may experience an extended mild start to January before more typical winter cold returns.
Overall, Nebraska appears poised to enter 2026 on a warm note, reflecting a broader national trend toward late-December and early-January warmth across the central U.S.
