TENNESSEE — Tennessee’s highest-ever recorded temperature is a scorching 113 °F, tied on two days in Perryville: July 29 and August 9, 1930. This remains the official all-time high for the state, according to the National Weather Service.
Close behind is Nashville’s record of 109 °F, reached on June 29, 2012.
The extreme heat during the late June–early July 2012 North American heat wave saw several Tennessee cities hit all-time highs: Knoxville reached 105 °F, Memphis 108 °F, and Chattanooga 107 °F.
These historical peaks illustrate how intense summer heat can reach deep into Tennessee.
Other major cities include:
- Memphis: recorded 108 °F on July 13, 1980, part of the severe 1980 United States heat wave
- Knoxville: peaked at 105 °F on June 30 and July 1, 2012.
While these records primarily date from the early 20th and mid-1980s to early 2010s, they continue to shape the understanding of Tennessee’s vulnerability to extreme heat events—with significant risks to public health, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
