What Is the Hottest Month in Nashville?
- 3 sections
- 1 table
- 3 sources cited
July is the hottest month in Nashville, with an average high of 90.9°F and an average low of 70.5°F under the official 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Nashville International Airport. August is nearly identical, averaging 90.4°F and 69.0°F, so in practice Nashville’s peak heat runs from early July through late August.
The figures come from NOAA’s 1991-2020 monthly climate normals for the airport station, the same record the National Weather Service uses for Nashville.
How the Summer Months Compare
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Days at 90°F or hotter | Days at 100°F or hotter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 87.7 | 66.4 | 10.8 | 0.1 |
| July | 90.9 | 70.5 | 18.2 | 0.4 |
| August | 90.4 | 69.0 | 15.9 | 0.6 |
| September | 84.4 | 61.8 | 6.8 | 0.0 |
July has the most 90-degree days and the warmest nights, which is why it wins the “hottest month” label. August, though, averages slightly more days at 100°F or above, so the hottest single afternoons of a typical year are about as likely to come in August as in July. Across a whole year the airport averages about one day (1.1) at 100°F or hotter.
Nights matter as much as afternoons. With July lows averaging about 70°F, the air cools little after dark, which is part of why a run of July days feels more draining than a single hot afternoon.
The Record
Nashville’s all-time high is 109°F, set on June 29, 2012, according to the National Weather Service’s Nashville climate records. That record fell in June, a reminder that the hottest month on average is not always where the extreme lands.
Planning Around July Heat
If you are visiting in July or August:
- Schedule outdoor time early or late. Walking tours, parks, and greenways are more comfortable in the morning; save the middle of the afternoon for indoor attractions such as museums, the Ryman, or the State Museum.
- Plan for heat illness, especially if you are drinking. The National Weather Service lists heavy sweating, weakness, cool and clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, and fainting as signs of heat exhaustion, and advises moving the person somewhere cooler, loosening clothing, applying cool wet cloths, and giving sips of water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency: call 911 and cool the person while waiting (NWS heat illness guidance).
- Watch for afternoon storms. Hot, humid afternoons can turn stormy quickly; check the forecast before an outdoor concert or a walk across the pedestrian bridge.
For a broader look at the whole year, see what the weather is like in Nashville, and for what summer means for a trip beyond the temperature, see what Nashville is like in summer.