Weather in Nashville

Nashville, the capital of Tennessee, sits in the middle of a geographic region known as the Nashville Basin and is surrounded by the Cumberland Highlands and the Cumberland Plateau to the east. As a result of this location, the city has a humid subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and relatively short, mild winters. 

Winter temperatures in Nashville hover just above freezing and the city can experience a light dusting of snow during the winter months (December to February). Frost is also common in winter, and the short days can quickly turn dark and gloomy.

Nashville gets plenty of sunshine throughout the year, and during the summer months (June to August) temperatures average around 90°F (32°C). 

Spring can be uncomfortable for those with allergies as the vegetation in Nashville and surrounds is so diverse and polliniferous. It is also the wettest season when rainfall can be relentless. 

Newcomers to Nashville are bound to notice the high humidity with levels of 70 percent throughout the year. The urban heat island effect is also prominent on clear nights with a fairly big temperature difference between the city’s core and outlying areas. 

In terms of hazardous weather, newcomers might want to take note of thunderstorms and potential tornadoes that tend to roll through during the spring and autumn, although they are rarely severe. Flash floods have been known to occur along the Cumberland River – these flood-prone areas may want to be avoided by prospective residents.