Tennesseans have it good in terms of weather in the Volunteer State. This is because, in general, Tennessee boasts a temperate climate. The summers here are warm, while winters are mild, i.e., cool but not cold, thanks to a mostly humid subtropical climate.
However, what type of weather you experience might be quite different from someone else in the state, depending on your location. Its varied topography means that Tennessee experiences a wide range of climatic conditions. Below, we’ll discuss what type of weather and storms could possibly look like in Tennessee.
But First, Let’s Talk Topography
Before we look at the individual components of the state’s weather profile, it’s important to get the lay of the land first—literally. Topography plays a big role, i.e., it exerts a major influence on the Volunteer State’s weather, so this is crucial information you should keep in mind throughout the article.
For climatology purposes, the state can be divided into four divisions:
- Division 1: East Tennessee
Division 1 is East Tennessee. This region encompasses the Great Valley, which is a funnel-shaped valley featuring a series of northeast-southwest ridges. Slopes vary from 700 feet in the south to 1,500 feet in the north, with the Great Smoky Mountains being the highest part of the state. Peaks in this mountain range reach between 4,000 to 6,000 feet.
- Division 2: Cumberland Plateau
Division 2 is Cumberland Plateau. This region lies parallel to the Great Valley to the east and the southern Appalachian Mountains to the west. The Highland Rim guards its western borders as the plateau overlooks the Great Valley on the east. The Cumberland Plateau features an average elevation of 2,000 feet and measures around 30 to 50 miles wide.
- Division 3: Middle Tennessee
Division 3 is Middle Tennessee, which is composed of two main landscapes: the low, rolling Central Basin (or Nashville Basin) at the center and the hilly Highland Rim, which forms a broad ring around the region.
In terms of elevation, the Highland Rim reaches 1,000 feet in the east and 300-400 feet above the Central Basin. Meanwhile, the rolling plain of the Central Basin has an average elevation of around 600 feet, but its crescent of hills rise to more than 1,000 feet south of Nashville.
- Division 4: West Tennessee
Division 4 is West Tennessee. It lies between the bluffs along the Mississippi River and the western valley of the Tennessee River. Imagine gently rolling plains or low-lying river land that rises 200 to 250 feet in the west to around 600 feet above sea level as you move toward the hills to the east.
Average Temperature in Tennessee
In the Volunteer State, the biggest factor when it comes to temperature is elevation. You see, in Tennessee, you will find lowlands in the Mississippi Valley and mountain peaks when you turn east.
This drop in elevation comes with a significant rise in temperature. So, it’s not surprising to know that the average annual temperature across the state varies from 62° F in the southwest to near 44° F in the highest peaks of the east. In fact, according to the State Climate Summaries 2022 published by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, temperature decreases, on average, 3° F per 1,000 feet increase in elevation.
In summer, you’ll find that the temperature becomes cooler and is more pleasant as the elevation increases. Similarly, in winter, the temperature drops the higher you go. Combined with increasing winds and snowfall events, winters in higher elevations can easily become dangerous.
Here’s a look at the temperature in some cities of the state:
- In Memphis, the annual mean temperature is 63.4°F (17.4°C). The coldest month in the city is January, with a mean temperature of 42.1°F (5.6°C), while the warmest month is July, with a mean temperature of 82.8°F (28.2°C).
- Nashville’s annual mean temperature is 60.8°F (16°C). The city’s coldest month, January, experiences a mean temperature of 39.6°F (4.2°C), while its warmest month, July, has a mean temperature of 80.7°F (27°C).
- The annual mean temperature in Knoxville is recorded as 59.5°F (15.5°C), with 39.1°F (3.9°C) in January, its coldest month, and 78.5°F (25.8°C) in July, its warmest month.
| City | Annual Mean Temperature | Coldest Month | Warmest Month |
| Memphis | 63.4°F (17.4°C) | January: 42.1°F (5.6°C) | July: 82.8°F (28.2°C) |
| Nashville | 60.8°F (16°C) | January: 39.6°F (4.2°C) | July: 80.7°F (27°C) |
| Knoxville | 59.5°F (15.5°C) | January: 39.1°F (3.9°C) | July: 78.5°F (25.8°C) |
Source: East Tennessee State University
Average Precipitation in Tennessee
Precipitation, which includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail, reaches around 51 inches (1,300 mm) annually, and this is evenly distributed across the state and over the seasons. However, Tennesseans receive the most precipitation in winter and spring from large-scale storms that pass more frequently around those times.
Summer, with its thunderstorms, is also another season that sees much precipitation. In the eastern mountains, July receives the most amount of precipitation in the year.
In particular, the Mt. LeConte COOP weather station, located nearly 6,500 feet above sea level, reports an average of 76.8 inches of snowfall annually (more than 100 inches in some years). This represents the highest snowfall totals in Tennessee. However, the annual average snowfall in the southern parts of the state ranges from one to four inches to almost 12 inches in the northeast.
What Shapes Tennessee Weather?
We talked about the Volunteer State’s topography earlier as a major factor that influences the weather in the region. Aside from this, other factors that greatly impact Tennessee weather are its geographic location and jet streams.
Being situated in the southeastern portion of the United States, it frequently experiences contrasting air masses. There is the warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico which is blown up by southern winds, and there’s also the cold, dry air pushing down from Canada. When these air masses meet in Tennessee, they shift the state’s weather, rain, and seasonal storms.
Their collision is primarily the doing of jet streams. These fast-flowing air currents high in the atmosphere direct or steer incoming weather systems. Their constant movements is the reason for Tennessee’s highly variable and sometimes severe weather.