Nebraskans couldn’t escape the heat this summer — not even at night

Nebraska's summer heat wave brought highs in the mid-90s and lows that barely dropped below 70. Residents in Omaha and Lincoln describe nights that no longer cool off, making an open window feel more like a humidity trap than relief. Cooling centers, like those run by the Salvation Army and Siena Francis House, have stepped in to offer water, ice, and shelter, though most operate only during the day. Lincoln currently has just one overnight cooling center.

For homeowners, the bigger nighttime heat means air conditioners run longer into the evening, driving up energy bills. That strain falls hardest on older homes and those that haven't been weatherized (sealed and insulated to keep conditioned air in and outside heat out). Health experts note that persistent heat, even overnight, stresses the cardiovascular and respiratory systems and disrupts sleep — one report estimates Omaha and Lincoln residents have lost about 30 hours of sleep a year to heat since 2020, with three of those hours tied directly to climate change.

The heat isn't just a comfort issue. Utilities are seeing higher demand as air conditioners work harder into the night, adding pressure to a grid already stretched by data centers and other users. Beyond homes, warmer nights are hurting Nebraska's corn and soybean crops and stressing livestock, as farmers and researchers look for ways to adapt. For anyone dealing with rising cooling costs, the trend points to a growing case for improving a home's insulation and air sealing to ease the strain during increasingly hot nights.