What is the average water temperature in Nebraska?

The current average water temperature across Nebraska's monitored water bodies is 65.7°F.

🌡️

Nebraska Water Temperatures

Q: What is the warmest lake in Nebraska today?

Platte River Near Leshara, Nebr. at 88.9°F.

Current lake & river temperatures in Nebraska — updated daily from USGS sensors.

With Data

65.7°F

State Avg

88.9°F

Warmest

88.9°F

Warmest

Platte River Near Leshara, Nebr.

65.7°F

State Average

100 water bodies

32°F

Coldest

Middle Loup River At Saint Paul, Nebr.

🏊

Swimming Conditions

⚠️ Brisk — wetsuit recommended

Based on avg 65.7°F

🎣

Fishing Conditions

🎣 Good — trout, walleye, bass

Based on avg 65.7°F

Nebraska — Ranked by Temperature

37 with data

#	Water Body	°F	°C	Condition	🏊	Date
1	Platte River Near Leshara, Nebr. River	88.9°	31.6°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
2	Elkhorn River At Waterloo, Nebr. River	88.3°	31.3°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
3	Platte River Near Venice, Nebr. River	88.2°	31.2°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
4	Salt Creek Near Ashland, Nebr. River	88°	31.1°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
5	Platte River Near Overton, Nebr. River	86.5°	30.3°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
6	Niobrara River Bl Soldier Cr Nr Niobrara, Nebr. River	86°	30°	🔥 Hot	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
7	Platte River At Louisville, Nebr. River	83.7°	28.7°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 16
8	Niobrara River Near Sparks, Nebr. River	83.7°	28.7°	☀️ Warm	🏊 Excellent	Jul 27
9	Niobrara River Near Verdel, Nebr. River	75.6°	24.2°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 24
10	Sappa Creek Near Stamford, Nebr. River	75.2°	24°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Sep 11
11	North Platte River At Scottsbluff, Nebr. River	75.2°	24°	☀️ Warm	✅ Good	Jul 27
12	Niobrara River At Agate, Nebr. River	74.8°	23.8°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Jul 26
13	Dismal River Near Thedford, Nebr. River	74.1°	23.4°	🌤️ Comfortable	✅ Good	Jul 27
14	Platte River Near Ashland, Nebr. River	71.8°	22.1°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 15
15	Salt Creek At 27Th Street At Lincoln, Nebr. River	69.8°	21°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 29
16	Republican River At Stratton, Nebr. River	68°	20°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Jun 23
17	Long Pine Creek Near Riverview, Nebr. River	67.1°	19.5°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 29
18	Missouri River At Nebraska City, Ne River	66.6°	19.2°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Aug 6
19	North Loup River Near Saint Paul, Nebr. River	66.2°	19°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 29
20	Loup River Near Genoa, Nebr. River	65.3°	18.5°	🌤️ Comfortable	⚠️ Brisk	Sep 30
21	Missouri River At Omaha, Ne River	64.9°	18.3°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jun 24
22	Papillion Creek At Fort Crook, Nebr. River	64.8°	18.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Oct 2
23	Missouri River At Sioux City, Ia River	63°	17.2°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Jul 27
24	Big Papillion Creek At Q Street At Omaha, Nebr. River	62.8°	17.1°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Oct 3
25	Platte River Near Grand Island, Nebr. River	61.7°	16.5°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
26	Arikaree River At Haigler, Nebr. River	60.1°	15.6°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 27
27	Republican River At Mccook, Nebr. River	57.2°	14°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
28	Beaver Creek Near Beaver City, Nebr. River	55.9°	13.3°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Sep 29
29	Shell Creek Near Columbus, Nebr. River	55.4°	13°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Oct 10
30	Elkhorn River At West Point, Nebr. River	55.2°	12.9°	🌊 Cool	🚫 Cold	Oct 2
31	Big Blue River Near Crete, Nebr. River	51.8°	11°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Sep 29
32	South Loup River At Arnold, Nebr. River	46.2°	7.9°	❄️ Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 14
33	Bow Creek Near Wynot, Nebr. River	43.5°	6.4°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 14
34	South Loup River At Saint Michael, Nebr. River	42.4°	5.8°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Oct 15
35	Rock Creek Near Ceresco, Nebr. River	39.2°	4°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 8
36	Middle Loup River At Dunning, Nebr. River	33.4°	0.8°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Dec 5
37	Middle Loup River At Saint Paul, Nebr. River	32°	0°	🧊 Very Cold	⛔ Very cold	Nov 22
38	West Papillion Creek At Millard, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
39	Little Nemaha River At Auburn, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
40	South Platte River At Roscoe, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
41	South Fork Republican River Near Benkelman, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
42	Platte River Near Kearney, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
43	Republican River Near Orleans, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
44	Middle Loup River Near Gates, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
45	Big Blue River At Barneston, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
46	Loup River Power Canal Near Genoa, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
47	Missouri River At Rulo, Ne River	—	—	—	—	—
48	Base Lake At Offutt Afb Nr Bellevue, Nebr. Lake	—	—	—	—	—
49	Elkhorn River At Ewing, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
50	Blackbird Creek Near Macy, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
51	Missouri River At Niobrara, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
52	Omaha Creek At Homer, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
53	North Oak Creek At Valparaiso, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
54	Big Papillion Creek At Pacific St At Omaha, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
55	Papillion Cr At Harlan Lewis Rd Nr La Platte, Nebr Lake	—	—	—	—	—
56	Buffalo Creek Near Haigler, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
57	Platte R Mid-Ch, Cottonwood Ranch Nr Elm Cr, Nebr. Lake	—	—	—	—	—
58	Platte River Near Duncan, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
59	West Fork Big Blue River Near Dorchester, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
60	North Loup River At Brewster, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
61	Platte River At North Bend, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
62	Platte River Nr Fremont, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
63	Niobrara River At Mariaville, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
64	Logan Creek At Wakefield, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
65	Missouri River Near St. James, Ne River	—	—	—	—	—
66	Middle Creek At Sw 63Rd St At Lincoln, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
67	Big Papillion Creek Near Kennard, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
68	Little Salt Creek Near Lincoln, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
69	South Papillion Creek At Chalco, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
70	Big Nemaha River At Falls City, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
71	Frenchman Creek At Palisade, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
72	Warm Slough Near Central City, Nebr. Lake	—	—	—	—	—
73	South Loup River At Pressey Wma Near Oconto, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
74	Little Blue River At County Line Nr Deshler, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
75	Beaver Creek At Genoa, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
76	Springfield Creek At Springfield, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
77	Missouri River Blw Ponca Creek Nr Verdel, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
78	North Fork Elkhorn River Near Pierce, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
79	North Blackbird Creek At Main St At Macy, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
80	Howe Creek Below Walker Draw Near Center, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
81	Salt Creek At Roca, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
82	Missouri River At Hwy 370 At Bellevue, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
83	Salt Creek At Innovation Campus At Lincoln, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
84	Little Papillion Creek At Irvington, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
85	Wahoo Creek At Ithaca, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
86	West Papillion Creek At Pacific St At Omaha, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
87	Weeping Water Creek At Union, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
88	Lodgepole Creek At Bushnell, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
89	Republican River At Benkelman, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
90	Elm Creek Near Elm Creek, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
91	Republican River At Cambridge, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
92	Turkey Creek Near Dewitt, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
93	Dines Lake At Offutt Afb Nr Bellevue, Nebr Lake	—	—	—	—	—
94	South Blackbird Creek At Hwy 75 Near Macy, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
95	Niobrara River At Niobrara, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
96	Maple Creek Near Nickerson, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
97	South Omaha Creek At Walthill, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
98	North Oak Creek Near Touhy, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
99	Big Papillion Creek At Fort Street At Omaha, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—
100	Stevens Creek Near Lincoln, Nebr. River	—	—	—	—	—

Platte River Near Leshara, Nebr. River

88.9°F

🔥 Hot

Elkhorn River At Waterloo, Nebr. River

88.3°F

🔥 Hot

Platte River Near Venice, Nebr. River

88.2°F

🔥 Hot

Salt Creek Near Ashland, Nebr. River

88°F

🔥 Hot

Platte River Near Overton, Nebr. River

86.5°F

🔥 Hot

Niobrara River Bl Soldier Cr Nr Niobrara, Nebr. River

86°F

🔥 Hot

Platte River At Louisville, Nebr. River

83.7°F

☀️ Warm

Niobrara River Near Sparks, Nebr. River

83.7°F

☀️ Warm

Niobrara River Near Verdel, Nebr. River

75.6°F

☀️ Warm

Sappa Creek Near Stamford, Nebr. River

75.2°F

☀️ Warm

North Platte River At Scottsbluff, Nebr. River

75.2°F

☀️ Warm

Niobrara River At Agate, Nebr. River

74.8°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Dismal River Near Thedford, Nebr. River

74.1°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Platte River Near Ashland, Nebr. River

71.8°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Salt Creek At 27Th Street At Lincoln, Nebr. River

69.8°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Republican River At Stratton, Nebr. River

68°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Long Pine Creek Near Riverview, Nebr. River

67.1°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Missouri River At Nebraska City, Ne River

66.6°F

🌤️ Comfortable

North Loup River Near Saint Paul, Nebr. River

66.2°F

🌤️ Comfortable

Loup River Near Genoa, Nebr. River

65.3°F

🌤️ Comfortable

More Nebraska Resources

🗺️ Nebraska Water Levels 🎣 Weekly Fishing Report ⛵ Boat Ramp Status 🌵 Drought Conditions 🌡️ All States

❓ Nebraska Water Temperature FAQ

What is the warmest lake in Nebraska today?

Based on our latest USGS data, Platte River Near Leshara, Nebr. is currently the warmest water body in Nebraska at 88.9°F.

Which Nebraska lakes are good for swimming right now?

Lakes with water temperatures above 72°F are generally comfortable for swimming. Currently, Nebraska's average water temperature is 65.7°F — check individual lakes above for specific conditions.

What is the best water temperature for fishing in Nebraska?

The optimal temperature range depends on your target species. For bass fishing, look for water bodies between 65–75°F. For trout, target the coldest water bodies in Nebraska — typically 50–65°F. Use the table above to identify which lakes are in the ideal range for your target species.

🔬 Data Methodology & Sources

Water temperature readings on this site are collected from USGS (United States Geological Survey) monitoring stations installed at lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the country. Sensors measure water surface temperature in Celsius, which is converted to Fahrenheit for display. Data is retrieved and stored daily. Temperatures shown reflect the most recent available sensor reading for each water body, typically from the past 1–30 days depending on station reporting frequency.

⚠️ Water temperatures can vary significantly across a water body due to depth, currents, and time of day. Sensor readings represent conditions at the monitoring station location. Always exercise caution when swimming and consult local authorities for official safety advisories.