Single-Digit Wind Chills Expected Tuesday Morning as Coldest Air of 2026 Reaches Middle Tennessee

Cold snap targets early Tuesday with the sharpest chill of the year so far

Middle Tennessee is set for its coldest start of 2026 on Tuesday morning, January 20, with air temperatures forecast to drop into the teens across the region and potentially into the single digits in a few locations. Even where thermometers remain above 10°F, wind will make conditions feel colder for a time, pushing wind chills into the single digits across much of the area during the morning commute.

Daytime recovery is expected to be limited. Afternoon highs are forecast to reach only the 30s, while the combination of cold air and lingering wind is likely to keep “feels-like” readings closer to the 20s at times.

How unusual is this level of cold for Nashville?

While single-digit air temperatures are not unprecedented in Nashville, they are uncommon and historically tied to major arctic outbreaks. Local climate records show Nashville’s all-time lowest temperature is -17°F (January 21, 1985). Another benchmark from that era is the city’s all-time lowest daily mean temperature of -5°F, recorded January 20, 1985—an illustration of how persistent cold can drive prolonged impacts even when daytime highs rise above morning lows.

This week’s event is not projected to approach those historic extremes, but it is expected to be the coldest morning so far this year and cold enough to create short-term risks for people, pets, and property.

Key risks: exposure, pipes, and travel readiness

Cold of this magnitude elevates the threat of hypothermia and frostbite for anyone outdoors without adequate layers, especially when wind chills dip into single digits. Property impacts also become more likely as temperatures remain below freezing long enough to stress household plumbing, particularly in uninsulated areas.

• Dress in layers, and limit time outdoors during the coldest morning hours.
• Bring pets indoors or ensure warm, wind-protected shelter and unfrozen water.
• Protect plumbing in vulnerable locations and monitor for slow drips or reduced flow.
• Keep vehicles winter-ready: fuel level, battery strength, and emergency supplies.

Cold-weather shelter operations and local response

In Nashville, Metro’s emergency cold weather shelter system operates during the November 1 to March 31 season, with the Metro Emergency Cold Weather Shelter opening when temperatures are at or below 32°F for three consecutive hours. City reporting for the current season shows multiple activations across November, December, and January, including nights with several hundred individuals seeking shelter during extended cold periods. These activations are designed to supplement capacity at existing shelters during the coldest stretches.

Residents who plan to be outdoors early Tuesday should expect the coldest conditions around daybreak, with improvement limited even after temperatures rise later in the day.

Forecast details may shift modestly with changes in wind speed and cloud cover, but the overall signal is consistent: Tuesday morning is shaping up as the harshest cold of 2026 to date in Middle Tennessee.