Weather & Climate in Crawford, NE

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Crawford experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C). Winters average 26°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 261 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 32. The city sits at an elevation of 3,682 feet.

Temperature

26°F Jan (-3°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)

Annual Average	48.0°F
	11% below US avg
January Average	26°F (-3°C)
July Average	74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days	261 days/yr

Geography

Elevation	3,682 ft (1,122 m)
Area	1.2 sq mi (3.0 km²)
Population Density	818/sq mi
Coordinates	42.6846°N, 103.4160°W
Timezone	America/Chicago
County	Dawes County County
Nearest Airport	Western Nebraska Regional/William B Heilig Field (BFF) 57 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Wettest Month (May) 2.83"

Driest Month (Jan) 0.39"

Air Quality

AQI Median	32.0
Rating	Good

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall Risk	Very Low
Risk Score	5.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability	11.4 / 100
Community Resilience	35.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado	Very Low
Earthquake	Very Low
Wildfire	Relatively Low
Flood	Very Low
Hail	Relatively Low
Strong Wind	Very Low
Heat Wave	Very Low
Winter Weather	Relatively Moderate
Lightning	Relatively Low
Ice Storm	Very Low
Drought	Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave	Relatively Low
Landslide	Very Low

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

26 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.0.

Jan 28, 1990	8 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota	M4.0	102 km	5 km
May 25, 2003	10 km SSW of Martin, South Dakota	M4.0	140 km	5 km
Apr 9, 1996	34 km SW of Edgemont, South Dakota	M3.7	70 km	5 km
Feb 6, 1996	13 km WNW of Hill City, South Dakota	M3.7	146 km	5 km
Oct 18, 2012	28 km NW of Hyannis, Nebraska	M3.6	131 km	5 km
Mar 9, 2025	7 km W of Fairburn, South Dakota	M3.6	111 km	5 km
Dec 12, 2013	10 km WSW of Hermosa, South Dakota	M3.5	126 km	5 km
Mar 26, 2021	10 km E of Edgemont, South Dakota	M3.4	73 km	5 km
Mar 2, 1990	7 km N of Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota	M3.2	101 km	5 km
May 3, 1996	32 km SSW of Edgemont, South Dakota	M3.1	64 km	5 km
Jun 18, 1998	23 km S of Chadron, Nebraska	M3.1	35 km	5 km
Jan 6, 2018	7 km SW of Guernsey, Wyoming	M3.0	126 km	5 km
Jan 16, 2012	25 km E of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota	M3.0	96 km	5 km
Jun 29, 2024	22 km ESE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming	M3.0	126 km	10 km
Nov 2, 1992	5 km ESE of Lusk, Wyoming	M3.0	80 km	5 km
Jun 16, 2024	7 km NNE of Buffalo Gap, South Dakota	M2.9	97 km	8 km
Mar 10, 2011	22 km N of Van Tassell, Wyoming	M2.9	58 km	5 km
Mar 18, 1994	4 km SSW of Hot Springs, South Dakota	M2.8	80 km	5 km
Apr 4, 2024	19 km SW of Interior, South Dakota	M2.8	145 km	9 km
Jan 5, 2004	28 km SSE of Hill View Heights, Wyoming	M2.8	112 km	5 km

Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

302 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 3 fatalities, 109 injuries.

Date	Rating	Distance	Path	Fatalities
Jun 27, 1955	EF4	90 km	26.0 mi	2
Jun 4, 1994	EF3	56 km	12.0 mi	0
May 5, 1993	EF3	64 km	13.0 mi	0
Jun 9, 1991	EF3	99 km	3.5 mi	0
Jul 20, 1978	EF3	75 km	53.2 mi	0
Jun 23, 2023	EF2	98 km	2.5 mi	0
Jul 2, 2020	EF2	29 km	3.4 mi	0
Jun 12, 2017	EF2	78 km	25.6 mi	0
Jun 12, 2017	EF2	96 km	31.7 mi	0
Jul 26, 2016	EF2	92 km	1.0 mi	0
Jun 22, 2012	EF2	58 km	16.7 mi	0
Jun 4, 1999	EF2	62 km	15.0 mi	1
Jun 4, 1999	EF2	75 km	4.0 mi	0
May 21, 1998	EF2	96 km	4.0 mi	0
Jul 26, 1993	EF2	90 km	3.8 mi	0
Aug 17, 1983	EF2	64 km	0.2 mi	0
Jun 20, 1983	EF2	62 km	0.3 mi	0
Jun 19, 1983	EF2	56 km	22.0 mi	0
Jun 5, 1982	EF2	68 km	7.0 mi	0
Jun 4, 1982	EF2	38 km	0.8 mi	0

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: WELLNITZ (77,277 acres, 2012).

Year	Name	Acres Burned	Distance
2012	WELLNITZ	77,277	69 km
2012	WEST ASH	55,228	20 km
1989	FT.ROBINSON	46,887	14 km
2006	SIOUX COUNTY COMPLEX	39,567	33 km
2012	DOUTHIT	29,036	18 km
2006	DAWES COUNTY COMPLEX	27,923	29 km
2007	STAMPEDE	22,848	76 km
1985	FLINT HILLS	21,062	77 km
2016	SIMMONS	20,950	73 km
2016	FREEMAN	19,121	83 km
1985	4TH OFJULY	18,177	76 km
2012	HAY CANYON	17,815	77 km
1996	UNNAMED	14,279	56 km
2016	INDIAN CANYON	13,791	69 km
2022	CASINO	11,583	65 km
2000	WARBONNET	11,504	47 km
1987	GRASS CK3	11,125	94 km
2001	WEST HELL CANYON	11,097	79 km
2007	ALABAUGH	10,650	77 km
2012	WHITE DRAW	9,297	87 km

Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month	Avg Temperature	Precipitation	Summary
January	26°F (-3°C)	0.4 in	Driest
February	29°F (-2°C)	0.4 in
March	36°F (2°C)	0.9 in
April	46°F (8°C)	1.9 in
May	56°F (13°C)	2.8 in	Wettest
June	66°F (19°C)	2.7 in
July	74°F (23°C)	2.2 in	Warmest
August	72°F (22°C)	1.5 in
September	61°F (16°C)	1.3 in
October	49°F (9°C)	0.9 in
November	35°F (2°C)	0.4 in
December	26°F (-4°C)	0.4 in	Coldest

Crawford has a seasonal temperature swing of 48°F / from 26°F in December to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 15.8 inches, with May being the wettest month (2.8") and January the driest (0.4").

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