Those who enjoy a milder climate yet still appreciate four distinct seasons will be right at home in the Nashville area. You can appreciate the seasons by playing in the winter snow, watching leaves change colors in the fall, and swimming in the lakes during the summer. Lush green lawns and colorful flowers bloom in spring – but don’t forget your umbrella – because you may find yourself amidst one of Nashville’s frequent and sudden rain showers.
The busiest tourist season in Nashville is in the summer where days can bring both sunshine and showers. July and August can be quite muggy with close to 100% humidity and temperatures around 100 degrees.
While weather in middle Tennessee is relatively calm most days, the skies can sometimes fill with ominous clouds, lightning, and hail – often with little warning.
Tornado season in the Nashville area typically runs from March through May and again in November; the middle Tennessee area is located in the Dixie Alley region of tornado alley. Tornadoes hit most often in the evening hours, although as we all know how unpredictable weather can be, a tornado can touch down at any time during the year.
Historically famous and dangerous tornadoes touched down in Nashville in 1988 and again several times in 1998. The storm from April of 1998 is still considered one of the worst tornado outbreaks in the history of the Nashville area.
Most winters in middle Tennessee are mild with a manageable snowfall. However, this winter wonderland can occasionally wreak havoc on residents. The “Great Blizzard” of 1951 is considered one of the worst ice storms in Nashville history. The cold, icy conditions completely shut down all transportation for 2 days, and Nashville residents were burdened with power failures, telephone outages, collapsed roofs, downed trees, auto accidents, and more. Folks in Nashville were stuck inside their homes for days – once the weather cleared enough for travel, the resulting traffic jams are still considered to be the worst in Nashville’s history.
Average Temperatures for the Nashville, Tennessee area
| Average | Average High | Average Low | |
| Annual | 59.2 | 69.8 | 48.5 |
| Spring (March-May) | 58.9 | 70.0 | 47.7 |
| Summer (June-August) | 78.0 | 88.7 | 67.3 |
| Fall (September-November) | 60.3 | 71.5 | 49.1 |
| Winter (December-February) | 39.4 | 49.1 | 29.7 |
The “Great Blizzard” of 1951 was an awesome event and challenge for William Albert and Evelyn Grisham whose daughter, Brenda, was born (1/31/51) during this time. Thank you for sharing about this ice storm. Every year at my birthday I get to hear the magnificant story about the day I was born.
Brenda G. Durham