Nashville area temperatures fall below zero. How long will it stay cold and when we can expect a warm up (2024)

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It's not going to warm up anytime soon, Nashville.

Wednesday morning, Nashville tied the record for the coldest temperature during the December 2022 cold snap with a temperature of -1. According to the National Weather Service, it's only the second time Nashville has fallen below 0 since 1996.

With the frigid temperatures and wind chill values as low as -12, the weather service extended its wind chill advisory for all of Middle Tennessee until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

In addition to the freezing conditions, the Tennessee Valley Authority is asking customers to limit electricity use between 6 and 10 a.m. C.T. Wednesday morning.

The good news, Wednesday will be sunny and clear and a high pressure system push in "warmer" air Wednesday, forecasters said.

"Highs tomorrow will push into the upper 20s to right around 30," the weather service's forecast discussion states. "Despite temperatures staying below freezing we should see the snow start to melt given the amount of sunshine expected."

Wednesday night temperatures will still be cold but not nearly as cold as Tuesday night.

The bad news, rain and snow showers return Thursday followed by another cold front that will being temperatures down to single digits again for the weekend.

How long will it stay cold in Nashville?

The weather service said it is likely not going to warm up for two reasons.

First, the snowpack (the total snow and ice on the ground, including both the new snow and the previous snow which has not melted) will reflect much of the afternoon solar radiation. Second, a strong thermal troughing will be building our way sending temperatures down to 5 degrees overnight Tuesday.

Record snowfall in Nashville?Music City surpasses yearly average in less than 24 hours

Looking ahead, another arctic front will be on the heels of the Thursday system, said the weather service. Lows by Friday morning will be back down to near 20 for many areas with just a small warm up during the day.

"Adding to the chill will be some light snowfall that could continue into the day. The rest of the extended looks dry but very cold," they said. "Look for single digits for lows into the weekend with moderating temps and highs near 40 degrees by Monday.

Additional snow accumulation may be possible Thursday and Friday, though amounts should be less than 1 inch for most areas including Nashville and Clarksville, forecasters said.

When will it warm up in Middle Tennessee?

During a Tuesday briefing, weather service officials said Midstate residents can expect much warmer weather next week.

“We’ll forget that this week ever happened,” a weather service official said during Tuesday's briefing. He did not identify himself.

Above normal temperatures and precipitation are expected between Jan. 21-25, the weather service said.

How much snow did the Nashville area receive?

On Tuesday, the weather service released final snow totals from Jan. 14-15. Here's how much snow the Middle Tennessee area received:

  • Belle Meade 9.0 inches
  • Berry Hill 8.9 inches
  • Oak Hill 8.5 inches
  • Antioch 7.9 inches
  • Nolensville 5.5 inches
  • Hendersonville 8.1 inches
  • Gallatin 8.0 inches
  • Murfreesboro 6.9 inches
  • Springfield 6.0 inches
  • Lafayette 5.5. inches
  • Shelbyville 6.5 inches

Nashville receives record snowfall on Monday

On Monday, Nashville received its yearly average of snow in less than 24 hours.

On Tuesday, the weather service confirmed that Nashville's official accumulation for the whole event was 7.6 inches, of that 6.3 inches fell Monday alone. That total surpasses the 2.2 inches daily snowfall record for January 15 which was set in 1944.

The average yearly snowfall from 1991 to 2020 was 4.7 inches, according to the weather service.

More:Nashville area road conditions: Roads expected to worsen with freezing temperatures

Nashville area radar

Nashville 7-day forecast

Tuesday: Partly sunny with a high near 18. Mostly clear at night with a low around 2. Wind chill values as low as -8.

Wednesday: Sunny with a high near 28, wind chill values as low as -5.Increasing clouds at night with a low around 15.

Thursday: Snow showers mainly after noon with a high near 34. The chance of precipitation is 80%. Snow showers likely before midnight. Cloudy with a low around 19, the chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Partly sunny with a high near 26. Partly cloudy at night with a low around 4.

Saturday: Mostly sunny with a high near 21 and a low around 4 at night.

Sunday: Mostly sunny with a high near 34 and a low around 19 at night.

Monday: Mostly sunny with a high near 44.

Reporters Craig Shoup, Kirsten Fiscus and Katie Nixon contributed to this report. Diana Leyva covers trending news and service for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @_leyvadiana

Nashville area temperatures fall below zero. How long will it stay cold and when we can expect a warm up (2024)

FAQs

How long does cold weather last in Tennessee? ›

While Tennessee winters can be quite cold - warm coats are definitely a must - frozen precipitation is unlikely and most winters are fairly mild. Cold seasons are shorter here, lasting for about 3 months out of the year, with January ranked as the coldest month.

What is the coldest month in Nashville? ›

Nashville's coldest month is January when the average temperature overnight is 27.9°F. In July, the warmest month, the average day time temperature rises to 88.7°F.

How long can you stay outside in below freezing temperatures? ›

This is why it is recommended to stay indoors if the wind chill drops below freezing. In general, when the wind chill is 32° and above, it's safe to be outside. In temperatures 13° to 31°, indoor breaks should happen every 20-30 minutes.

When was the last time Tennessee had below zero temperatures? ›

“As of 503am, the temperature in #Nashville has officially fallen below zero and is currently -1°. This ties the coldest temperature during the December 2022 cold snap, and is only the second time #Nashville has fallen below 0° since 1996!

What is the coldest city in Tennessee? ›

Tennessee: Oak Ridge

Oakridge, situated in eastern Tennessee, is the state's coldest city. Oakridge is known for being the location of several facilities, including those for enriching uranium, used in the World War II-era Manhattan Project—an initiative to develop a working atomic weapon.

What month does it cool down in Tennessee? ›

L.A.M. What month does it start getting cold in Tennessee? According to Google: “The cold season lasts for 3.0 months, from November 27 to February 26, with an average daily high temperature below 56°F. The coldest day of the year is January 29, with an average low of 31°F and high of 48°F.”

What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Nashville Tennessee? ›

Jan. 21, 1985 – Nashville's lowest temperature on record at 17 degrees below zero.

Is Nashville warmer than Chicago? ›

When moving from Chicago to Nashville, you will benefit from a higher average temperature (60°F versus 51°F). There's also less snowfall in Nashville, which means less disruption to daily life.

How cold does it get in Nashville in the fall? ›

Here's a look at 2020-2021 average monthly temperatures: October: 62.4° November: 53.9° December: 41.7°

What temperature should your house be when it's below freezing? ›

Keep your house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees.

A temperature lower than 65 degrees might not keep the inside walls from freezing.

How long can a human survive in 0 degree weather? ›

A person can die from hypothermia in as little as under one hour. Hypothermia is a medical emergency caused by prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures and the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Normal body temperature is about 98.6°F/37°C.

What is the coldest you can leave your house? ›

If you plan to be gone for months, you can choose a lower minimum heat setting for your empty house. If you are not worried about freezing, you can set your thermostat as low as 45°F.

What year did Tennessee not have a summer? ›

People have referred to 1816 as the year without a summer for good reason. Snow in June, heavy frosts in June, July and August and weather with temperatures regularly dipping into the low 40s kept most residents of east Tennessee and the rest of the country cold, wet and miserable.

When was the last time Tennessee was in the negatives? ›

If you've lived here awhile, you may remember Nashville's previous below-zero days. There were icy roads and multi-car pile-ups on interstates in the days leading up to Feb. 5, 1996. Negative one degree.

How long ago was Tennessee underwater? ›

About four billion years ago the area which is now Tennessee was completely covered with water. The inhabitants of our state during this time were creatures like algae and jellyfish. Several billion years later, land began to emerge from the water as a result of mountain building.

What are the winter months in Tennessee? ›

The graph below details temperature impacts during the winter months (December through February) associated with La Niñas of the indicated intensity in Tennessee Climate Division 2. The winter temperatures are divided into terciles, or the coldest third, the middle third, and the warmest third of all winters.

What month does Tennessee have severe weather? ›

Severe weather in the Tennessee Valley can happen during any time of year, but there are two distinct peaks: Spring and Fall. While March, April, and May contain the greatest number of severe weather instances, severe weather for our area peaks again in November.

Does Tennessee stay warm year round? ›

Tennessee has a moderate climate featuring cool, but not cold, winters and warm summers. The drop in elevation causes temperatures to rise significantly from east to west.

How many months out of the year does it snow in Tennessee? ›

Generally speaking, main snow months are January and February however there is still a possibility for snow events in December and March. Here is what past snow events can tell us about this upcoming winter.

References

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