Major Heat Relief
Sunday, September 20, 2026 · 5:41 AM
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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. Check it out, baby! The party's starting right now! Hit one hundred degrees again on Saturday afternoon That makes six total days in September, honey, autumn's coming soon Got the strong high pressure holding on, but it's losing its grip East of Interstate sixty-five, just a little isolated drip Yeah, you like it hot, but you're ready for a change, aren't ya? That ridge over the south is getting weak, oh yeah A broad troff is forming up in the Midwest, breaking through the air Thirty to forty percent chance of rain rolling in on Monday night Baby, get ready 'cause we're gonna make it feel just right! Whoa-oh-oh! The heat advisory is starting to yield! Whoa-oh-oh! A real cold front is heading down the field! It's ninety percent on the Plateau, baby, come on and see Yeah, you know you want that major heat relief! Seven zero four P.M. Central Daylight Time on Tuesday night Astronomical fall arrives and makes everything alright Deepening troff pattern pushing down the Tennessee Valley floor Some local downpours, baby, but you're gonna want a whole lot more Oh yeah, smirk it off, we're taking over this town! That ridge over the south is getting weak, oh yeah A broad troff is forming up in the Midwest, breaking through the air Thirty to forty percent chance of rain rolling in on Monday night Baby, get ready 'cause we're gonna make it feel just right! Whoa-oh-oh! The heat advisory is starting to yield! Whoa-oh-oh! A real cold front is heading down the field! It's ninety percent on the Plateau, baby, come on and see Yeah, you know you want that major heat relief! Major heat relief! Yeah! Lower eighties for the highs! Lower sixties for the lows! Whoa-oh-oh! The party's just getting started! Major heat relief!
The forecast discussion
KEY MESSAGES
Updated at 539 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.