Questions about Nebraska (Omaha, Lincoln, Grand Island: rent, coop, homes)

[Omahahonors]

The average high for the months of December is 35, January is 33. (2/12 below 40)
The average high for the month of February is 40. (3/12 below 50)
The average high of November and March is 50. (7/12 50 and above)
The average high for October and April is 65.
The average high for the remaining months are from 75-85. (No monthly average above 86)

Average snowfall is 26.8 inches. Average rainfall is 29 inches per year. Omaha has more sun than the average city with an average of 270 days with partly sunny to sunny days. This can be attributed to the city lying on a fluctuating boundary of dry or humid air. There many days with a lower dew point when the wind direction is from having the south (sometimes dry, sometimes humid), southwest, west, northwest and northern winds. We can get relatively humid at times when the wind is from the south (sometimes dry, sometimes humid), south-southeast, southeast and east.

Our average daily high in July is 86 with an average of 23 days a year that exceed 90 degrees. There is a potential of 1-4 weeks of the 90 degree with high humidity weather (this summer we saw 3 weeks of 90-105 with high humidity. still much much lower than many parts of the US), but we do see the 90 degree dry weather just as often.

Omaha tends to be very dry in the winter (less than an inch of precip in the form of snow, 26.8 average inches) as the winds are more commonly from the west than the southeast. Humidity has no effect on the body in the winter according to many studies, but there are a few that live/die by that sword.

[Wyomama2]

The wind doesn't blow all the time in central Nebraska like it does up where Granny lives. There are windy days but nothing anyone talks about. They do get thunderstorms that come through and one year 100+ mph winds were reported but that's not the norm, and I wouldn't be too concerned about it. I would buy a house with a finished basement for the chance of needing cover during tornado season, it's nice to be comfortable if the need arises.

[k9coach]

The weather sounds fine to me! The amount of sunny days per year is most appealing.

Would absolutely buy a house with a good basement. Husband actually got a little wacky on me and started talking about a wide ramp down a bulkhead and a couple horse stalls in the basement... said he couldn't stand being down there with the horses out or stuck in the barn if a twister was coming!

[Wyomama2]

LOL, that would get people talking! You let them out of the barn, if they have enough room they'll run away from it. They'll also clue you in on the weather, you don't need a tornado siren with horses, they start running back and forth like crazy making all kinds of noise.

[SCGranny]

Wyomama is right; horses will flee a tornado. My Grace lets me know if a bad storm is coming; if she doesn't herd the cattle into the corral, it's nothing to worry about!

We do have a lovely full (but unfinished) basement; it is a great place to raise plants in the winter (I am working on poinsettias now), plus I have my ceramics work down there as well as the laundry area, big freezers, a spare refrigerator, and lots of shelves for my Christmas decorations. We have an 'outside egress' door to the basement which is handy for taking stuff downstairs quickly - although I think the horse would balk.

[Raphael07]

About the accent thing: A lot of it is age. For example, my grandparents will say crick, call lunch dinner and dinner supper, say ky-yote etc. I, on the other hand, say creek, lunch and ky-yo-te, and other things. For example, as someone pointed out, we don't say gs on the ends of our words. (Going=goin, saying=sayin etc.) Also, we don't really say ts, we sort of swallow them if that makes sense. (Mountain=moun'in, kind of like how you would say ean in ocean) Then well can sometime be said as wull, for can be fer but those just depend on sentence context. Our accent is subtle and complex and doesn't sound like English at time (What are you doing? can be multiple things :Whatcha doin'? Wutterya doin'?) And you, again, depending on context, can be yuh, and you're can be yer. We claim to not have an accent, but oh we do. The only accent that it isn't an accent is Standard British English.

[313 TUxedo]

Originally Posted by k9coach

Ready to move out of Buffalo, NY and considering several states including Nebraska for relocation. I have questions:

<snip>

5) Is there an accent in Nebraska? If so maybe give an example using a couple words or phrases to demonstrate.

Think Johnny Carson (when he was not doing an impersonation of someone else) and you get the idea. He was from Norfolk (which, BTW, they pronounce "Norfork"). This spring, I was listening to a radio station, thinking "this announcer has the best voice I've heard on radio!", the station was in Norfolk.

Originally Posted by k9coach

What we are looking for: (maybe you can suggest towns considering jobs will most likely be in eastern part of state?)

- We need small acreage (3-10 acres is just fine for us)

Note that water may be harder to come by in much of NE than upstate NY.

Originally Posted by k9coach

- Hot weather does not bother us, it is the bugs that come with it that get to us.

Of course hot weather does not bother you - you're in Buffalo! No city in the lower 48 is both larger and cooler in the summer than Buffalo. Anyplace in eastern NE is gonna have a hotter summer (note for NE readers: Buffalo is especially cool in the summer, even for the region, because it has Lake Erie directly to its west - it has never been 100F there).

[JohannaRhoads]

I love Nebraska (Lincoln) so much I became a Realtor in town. Compared to growing up in California, the cost of living is amazing here. Yes, we have four seasons but it is beautiful and Lincoln is full of things to do. The school system is great and the people are just so friendly. It is the one place that does not seem to hurt by the economy in terms of unemployment, housing market, etc. Also, I feel very safe in Lincoln as far as weather, crime, etc goes.

Oh, and Go Big Red!

-- Johanna Rhoads www.woodsbros.com/johannarhoads

[Sandhills Guru]

Ready to move out of Buffalo, NY and considering several states including Nebraska for relocation. I have questions:

1) How long does winter last? (Here in WNY it drags on for 6 months)

I find a huge difference in what part of the state you live in. The panhandle of the state can see highs in the 50's throughout winter, while the eastern part of the state is looking at the 20's. Snow also will vary from year to year. I would say most years you see winter begin early December and by mid March spring is making its appearance known.

2) Are ticks, mosquitoes, venomous snakes, dangerous spiders pervasive? Any other threatening or annoying pests I should know about? (I have dogs and horses and am more concerned for them than myself).

Who doesn't have ticks? My neighbor can be annoying at times bringing over fresh baked goods like she does, you know a guy has to eat them you don't want to hurt her feelings.... Western/Sandhills areas you will find a rattler or two. Mosquito's can be pain at times, but bearable.

3) Would having a swimming pool make sense in Nebraska or is the swimming season too short / weather too windy to enjoy a pool?

Personally I think there are plenty of opportunities to swim here without a your own pool. Never had one so really can't be much help to you, if I ever needed to cool off the Niobrara River did a good enough job.

4) Tell me what you can about driving in Nebraska. Speed limits, enforcement of speed limits, prevalence of drunk and/or uninsured drivers, treacherous road conditions, etc.

Interstate 75 Most highways 60 but some are 65, gravel/rural roads 50/55 You will find that most officers are good decent folks.

5) Is there an accent in Nebraska? If so maybe give an example using a couple words or phrases to demonstrate.

Not really an accent, different waves for different areas of the state is more like it, so practice your wave.

What we are looking for: (maybe you can suggest towns considering jobs will most likely be in eastern part of state?)

- We need small acreage (3-10 acres is just fine for us)

- We can deal with bitter cold and snow for about 3 months, then we start to become depressed and agitated..)

- Hot weather does not bother us, it is the bugs that come with it that get to us.

- We want to live in a rural-ish setting, but not out in the middle of nowhere. Border between suburbs and country is where we are most comfortable. Like our space and privacy but don't want to be isolated and only house for miles around.

- Safety / low crime is of extreme importance to us.

Omaha/Lincoln areas are ok, just depends on what you are looking for. Your job qualifications and what you are willing to do will make a difference in location. And what you are willing to pay for an acreage also. Big difference between eastern part of state and central. Personally I would look more central, Grand Island/Kearney/North Platte and of course Valentine if you want really rural.

Might Nebraska be a good fit for us and do you have any suggestions of towns to look at?

Darn right it would be a good fit for you and your family!! Hope to see you soon!!

[stargazer17]

I live half-way between Omaha and Lincoln, just west of the Platte river.

1) How long does winter last? (Here in WNY it drags on for 6 months)

I agree with the Mid December to Early March crowd. The thing to remember is that Nebraska does not have any weather of its own. We get either cold from the north, hot from the SW, or humid from the SE. Whichever happens to be winning the tug of war that day. It can get pretty ....turbulent... when the fronts collide and can change in a few hours. We have more wind than most places. It's a nuisance for me, but something I'm used to. I really dislike the humidity, which fortunately for me is usually confined to late July through August.

2) Are ticks, mosquitoes, venomous snakes, dangerous spiders pervasive? Any other threatening or annoying pests I should know about? (I have dogs and horses and am more concerned for them than myself).

There are lots of horse and dog owners here. Everyone seems to manage just fine.

3) Would having a swimming pool make sense in Nebraska or is the swimming season too short / weather too windy to enjoy a pool?

I live on a lake and the skiing / wakeboarding season runs from late May to mid September. We're on the northern boundary of pool territory, but if your a pool person it's quite reasonable.


4) Tell me what you can about driving in Nebraska. Speed limits, enforcement of speed limits, prevalence of drunk and/or uninsured drivers, treacherous road conditions, etc.

I drive between the speed limit and +5 and never get a ticket. I buy uninsured motorist insurance and think everyone should. I don't have a good feel for the number of drunk drivers. It's certainly an issue, but I don't know if it's better or worse than anywhere else. Road conditions are usually good, but there are times in the winter when ice causes real problems.

5) Is there an accent in Nebraska? If so maybe give an example using a couple words or phrases to demonstrate.

We have an accent in the same way that a beige wall has color. It's pretty neutral, but it's there if you look.


Four seasons? Sometimes all in one day. One a more serious side, we do have quite distinct seasons. We've had a beautiful Fall so far and are just now getting into the fall colors. The autumn purple ash trees around my house are stunning.

Five to 10 acre acreages are very common in the eastern part of the state. I'm 20 minutes from west Omaha and 45 minutes from the entertainment districts in downtown Omaha and Lincoln; and I can hear coyotes at night, see eagles in the winter, and the milky way overhead.