Warmest December on record for Central Nebraska

HASTINGS, Neb.-- Grand Island and Hastings' airports average temperature numbers are in for December, proving some shocking records.

The National Weather Service in Hastings announced yesterday the period of December 4 - January 4 as the overall warmest on record for the area.

The Grand Island airport's average high temperature was over five degrees warmer than the previous record at 48.8 degrees. The new record of overall average temperature, beating out the heat wave of 1991, is now 35.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Hastings, temperatures broke not only the average high and low, but also the overall. In comparison to the 1957 high temp of 47.6, 2025's was 49.2. December of 2025 will now hold the overall average temperature record at 36.1

Grand Island reached at least 50 degrees on 16 days, with Hastings at 17, and both even hit 70 degrees the day after Christmas.

Only four days from December 4 - January 4 failed to reach 30 degrees.