Astronomical Fall
Sunday, September 20, 2026 · 12:10 AM
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Lyrics
A Heat Advisory continues through Sunday for most of Middle Tennessee. The heat will begin to ease Monday and Tuesday. Major heat relief is on the way with temperatures falling near normal levels starting Wednesday. Very low rain chances through Sunday. Higher rain chances spread areawide Monday through Tuesday with a low risk for strong storms with gusty winds each afternoon. One hundred degrees on Saturday, the sixth flame of the month Matching ghosts from nineteen twenty-five that haunt the burning brush East of Interstate sixty-five the isolated cell begins to grow Just enough instability to strike the earth below The southern ridge is losing grip, its reign is turning pale A broad troff forms across the Midwest sky to lift the heavy veil At seven oh four P.M. Central Daylight Time on Tuesday night The prophecy fulfills itself and smothers out the light Astronomical fall arrives tonight! A deepening troff destroys the light! Astronomical fall arrives tonight! Astronomical fall! From forty percent upon the west to ninety on the Plateau height The real cold front descends through dark to claim the dying light Local downpours, gusty winds, a temporary reprieve Not a soaking rain to save us, but the boundary makes us bleed Astronomical fall arrives tonight! A deepening troff destroys the light! Astronomical fall arrives tonight! Astronomical fall! Astronomical fall! Astronomical fall! The troff pushes through the valley! Astronomical fall!
The forecast discussion
KEY MESSAGES
Updated at 1208 AM CDT Sun Sep 20 2026
- A Heat Advisory continues through Sunday for most of Middle Tennessee.
The heat will begin to ease Monday and Tuesday.
- Major heat relief is on the way with temperatures falling near normal levels starting Wednesday.
- Very low rain chances through Sunday.
Higher rain chances spread areawide Monday through Tuesday with a low risk for strong storms with gusty winds each afternoon.
SHORT TERM
(Tonight through Tuesday) Issued at 1040 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026
Our heatwave, or more optimistically, the end of our heatwave is the main story.
We get one more day with a Heat Advisory, then a couple of transition days leading to more typical late September weather.
Saturday was yet another record-setting day for Nashville with a high of 100. The previous record for the date was 97 set in 1925 and 1954. This was the 6th 100+ day this September.
The record for 100+ days in September is 7 in 1925.
Sunday will be much the same, but perhaps a degree or 2 lower as the strong high pressure system loses just a little of its grip.
There will be very low rain chances with isolated showers and storms east of I-65. Just enough instability will be present for a low- end gusty wind risk.
Moving into Monday, the ridge over the southern states will weaken further as a broad trough pattern forms across the Midwest and Great Lakes.
This will create a more active pattern with a series of weak disturbances moving from west to east between the trough and the weakening ridge.
Chances for scattered showers and storms will increase area-wide Monday afternoon and evening (30 to 40 percent).
There will be a low chance for a few strong storms with gusty winds.
Monday night through Tuesday, chances for showers and storms will climb into the medium to high category (40 percent west to near 90 percent Plateau) as the deepening rough pattern to our north pushes a real cold front down toward the TN Valley.
Some local downpours and gusty winds will occur, but it will not be a widespread soaking rain that we may be wishing for.
The heat will back off more for Tuesday, although some spots will still top 90 degrees.
LONG TERM
(Tuesday night through next Sunday) Issued at 1040 PM CDT Sat Sep 19 2026
Astronomical fall begins at 704 PM CDT Tuesday, and the autumnal equinox will coincide with the start of major heat relief for Middle TN. A cold front will push through the area late Tuesday into early Wednesday with scattered showers and storms followed by a much more typical air mass for this time of year.
A few of the storms could be strong into Tuesday evening, but we are not looking for a major severe event.
Temperatures after the front, Wednesday through next weekend, will be mostly in the lower 80s for highs and lower 60s for lows.
The Plateau will have mostly 70s and 50s.
The cooler air will also come with mostly dry conditions for late week.