Does it snow in Nashville?

Known as the Music City, Nashville, the capital and most populous city of Tennessee, has long been considered one of the main nerve centers of the music industry in the United States.

Not surprisingly, Nashville receives a large annual influx of music-loving tourists, especially country music, a musical genre with great relevance in the city.

Such importance is so great that there is a museum dedicated to the history of country music in Nashville: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Likewise, Nashville is also notable for hosting several educational institutions such as Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University, Belmont University, Fisk University, and Trevecca Nazarene University.

This particular characteristic gave it the nickname of the Athens of the South, about the ancient Greek polis of Athens.

As if that were not enough, Nashville enjoys a pleasant climate, with hot and humid summers and relatively cold winters, which will allow you to enjoy the occasional snowfall during the winter months. For all this and much more, Nashville should be a vital stop on your tour of Tennessee, United States.

Index

    Snow in Nashville

    Does it snow in Nashville? The short answer is a resounding yes!

    Based on the Köppen climate classification, Nashville has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa): a type of climate characterized by long, hot, and humid summers, cool or mild winters, and high annual rainfall (almost 51 inches / 129.5 cm of precipitation per year).

    Given Nashville's climatic characteristics, snowfall is not an uncommon weather phenomenon to spot. Thus, snowfall occurs regularly in Nashville during the winter, and it's generally not dangerous.

    Snow in Belle Meade Mansion
    Snow in Belle Meade Mansion (Nashville). Flickr.

    On average, Nashville shows approximately 4.7 inches / 11.9 cm of annual snowfall, usually spread between the coldest months, January and February, and occasionally November, December, and March.

    Despite this fact, Nashville’s most significant recorded snowstorm occurred on March 17, 1892, just days before winter ended.

    The climate of Nashville

    NASHVILLE WEATHER

    As explained in the previous section, Nashville has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) according to the Köppen climate classification.

    In other words, the Nashville winters are relatively cold, and its summers are hot, humid, and stormy. No wonder its annual rainfall amounts to 50.78 inches / 128.9 cm by year.

    During the summer, namely, between June and August, the combination of factors, such as temperature and humidity, generates an unwanted hot and sultry feeling. Generally, on the hottest days of the year, the temperature can easily reach 100.4 °F (38 °C).

    Snow in James E. Walker Library
    Snow in James E. Walker Library (Nashville). Flickr.

    In contrast to Nashville's summer climate, spring and fall weather do not have well-defined characteristics. However, in general terms, they can be considered the months with the highest levels of precipitation, electrical storms, and even other meteorological phenomena such as tornadoes.

    For its part, during the winter, namely, between December and March, temperatures tend to drop drastically, even falling below 5 °F (-15 °C), especially in January and February, although in some regions, where subtropical air masses predominate, temperatures can rise to 68 °F (20 °C); however, this is not the most common.

    Finally, snowfalls are a fairly common weather phenomenon in Nashville. Generally, they occur almost every year, although not with the same intensity.

    MAP of NASHVILLE

    Summer weather characteristics

    • Highest record temperature: 109 °F / 42.7 °C  (June 29, 2012).
    • Mean maximum: 96.33 °F (35.7 °C).
    • Average high: 89.66 °F (32 °C).
    • Mean minimum: 59 °F (15 °C).
    • Daily mean: 79.16 °F (26.2 °C).
    • Average precipitation: 4.10 (10.4 cm).
    • Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inches): 10.13.

    Winter weather characteristics

    • Lowest record temperature: -17 °F / -27.22 °C (January 21, 1985).
    • Mean maximum: 72.75 °F (22.6 °C).
    • Average high: 54.45 °F (12.4 °C).
    • Mean minimum: 16.5 °F (-8.1 °C).
    • Daily mean: 44.3 °F (6.8 °C).
    • Average precipitation: 4.36 inches (11 cm).
    • Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 inches): 11.17.

    Precipitation and other weather characteristics

    • Average annual precipitation: 50.78 inches (128.9 cm).
    • Average annual snowfall: 4.7 inches (11.9 cm).
    • The highest record of snowfall accumulation per year: 17 inches / 43.18 cm (March 17, 1982, during the St. Patrick’s Day Snowstorm).

    When does it snow in Nashville? 🌨

    Snow in the Parthenon of Nashville
    Snow in the Parthenon of Nashville. Flickr.

    Does it snow in Nashville in November?              

    Yes, it might snow in November. While the chances are slim, on average, snowfall can reach or exceed 0.1 inches (0.25 cm) of accumulation in November.

    Does it snow in Nashville in December?

    Yes, it might snow in December. Compared to the previous month, snowfalls increased their frequency notably, although they still did not exceed half an inch of accumulation on average. 

    Does it snow in Nashville in January? 

    Yes, it might snow in January. Since this is the coldest month in Nashville, it's no surprise that snowfalls increase in intensity, even reaching 2 inches (5 cm) of accumulation on average. 

    Does it snow in Nashville in February?

    Yes, it might snow in February. Compared to the previous month, snowfall accumulation decreased by approximately 25% (on average). 

    Does it snow in Nashville in March?

    Yes, it might snow in March. Oddly enough, Nashville's highest single-day snow accumulation record occurred in March, despite being the last month of the winter season.

    How much does it snow in Nashville? 🌨

    Next, we present an informative table on different climatological parameters of Nashville, which includes the average snowfall expressed in inches:

    MonthJan.Feb.Mar.Apr.May.Jun.Jul.Aug.Sep.Oct.Nov.Dec.Annual
    Average low (°F)30.133.040.248.958.366.470.569.061.849.939.233.350.1
    Record low (°F)−17−13223344251473626−1−10−17
    Average rainfall (inches)4.024.474.524.725.024.364.163.793.803.363.864.4350.51
    Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)10.810.911.611.211.610.710.39.47.88.49.011.4123.1
    Average snowfall inches 2.01.50.70.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.10.44.7
    Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)2.01.90.90.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.20.55.5
    Record snowfall inches (year)8

    (2016)

    0.017

    (1968)

    0.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.017
    (1892)

    Informative table on different climatological parameters of Nashville

    The data set out above comes from the climate data provided by Nashville International Airport.

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