Tennessee climate

World Climates covers 6 places in Tennessee. By annual mean temperature, the warmest is Memphis (17 °C62 °F) and the coolest is Clarksville (15 °C58 °F). The wettest is Murfreesboro with 1,367 mm54 in of precipitation per year, the driest Knoxville with 1,308 mm52 in.

The most common climate types (Köppen classification computed from these averages) are humid subtropical (Cfa, 6 places).

The highest monthly average high is in Memphis (34 °C93 °F in August); the lowest monthly average low is in Clarksville (−3 °C27 °F in January).

Across the places in Tennessee, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are April, September and October (1, 4 and 6 of 6 places respectively).

Temperature and rainfall across Tennessee

Annual mean temperatures in Tennessee range from 15 °C58 °F to 17 °C62 °F. The typical place (the median of all 6) has a year average of 15 °C59 °F. Annual precipitation ranges from 1,308 mm52 in to 1,367 mm54 in. The median place receives about 1,353 mm53 in in an average year.

In 6 places of 6, the coldest month has an average low below 0 °C (32 °F). In 6 places, the warmest month has an average high above 30 °C (86 °F). No place here gets less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation a year. None gets more than 2,000 mm (79 in) a year.

Averaged over all 6 places, July is the warmest month, with a mean of 27 °C80 °F. January is the coldest, with 3 °C38 °F. The wettest month on average is December (130 mm5.1 in). The driest is September (94 mm3.7 in). Single places can differ a lot from this average, so check the page of each city.

The table below lists the places sorted by population. The largest ones covered here are Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville. Each city page has a chart and a table for every month. It also shows the best time to visit and what to pack. The figures are 25-year averages for 2001–2025 from NASA POWER. They describe grid cells of roughly 50–70 km, not single weather stations.

Climate of each place in Tennessee

Nashville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 15 °C59 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 32 °C89 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −2 °C28 °F. About 1,351 mm53 in of precipitation falls in a year. February is the wettest month and September the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are September and October.

Memphis has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 17 °C62 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 33 °C92 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −1 °C30 °F. About 1,357 mm53 in of precipitation falls in a year. May is the wettest month and September the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are April and September and October.

Knoxville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 15 °C60 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 31 °C89 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −2 °C29 °F. About 1,308 mm52 in of precipitation falls in a year. July is the wettest month and October the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are October.

Chattanooga has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 16 °C61 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 33 °C91 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −1 °C30 °F. About 1,355 mm53 in of precipitation falls in a year. December is the wettest month and October the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are October.

Clarksville has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 15 °C58 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 32 °C89 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −3 °C27 °F. About 1,316 mm52 in of precipitation falls in a year. May is the wettest month and September the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are September and October.

Murfreesboro has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 15 °C59 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 31 °C88 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −2 °C28 °F. About 1,367 mm54 in of precipitation falls in a year. July is the wettest month and September the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are September and October.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the warmest place in Tennessee?

By annual mean temperature, the warmest place in Tennessee is Memphis at 17 °C62 °F. The coolest is Clarksville at 15 °C58 °F.

Where does it rain the most in Tennessee?

Murfreesboro gets the most precipitation, 1,367 mm54 in in an average year. The driest place is Knoxville with 1,308 mm52 in.

How many places in Tennessee does this site cover?

World Climates has climate data for 6 places in Tennessee. Each one has a page with monthly averages for temperature, rainfall, humidity and daylight.

When is the best time to visit Tennessee?

It depends on the place. Across Tennessee, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are April, September and October. Check the page of each city for its own best months.