Memphis, TN Climate & Monthly Averages
Memphis has a humid subtropical climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 90° by day; January is the coldest at 50°.
Memphis's climate is a story of contrasts
Seasons are the whole story in Memphis. The gap between an average July and an average January is 23°C - hot, humid summers and generally mild winters - which in practice means 90°F (32°C) afternoons at one end of the calendar and 50°F (10°C) at the other.
July
90° by day 74° at nightJanuary
50° by day 34° at nightThe two ends of the year
At its warmest, in July, Memphis runs to 90°F (32°C) in the afternoon and back to 74°F (24°C) by dawn. January bottoms out at 50°F (10°C) in daylight, 34°F (1°C) after dark. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 101°F (38°C) and the lowest daily minimum -6°F (-21°C). Snowfall is rare but not unheard of.
Average highs hold at or above 30°C for 3 months of the year, June through August being the unbroken run. March is the wettest month at 6.7 inches (169 mm) over 14 days; September is the driest. Sunshine averages 9.0 hours a day over the year, peaking in July at 12.3 hours.
More climate facts for Memphis
- Hottest month: July - highs near 90°F (32°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 50°F (10°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 101°F (38°C) high · -6°F (-21°C) low
- Wettest month: March (14 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (12.3 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 23°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Snow: about 2 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 3
- Average humidity: 71%
Four distinct parts of the year in Memphis
Spring (March through May)
Spring brings comfortable warmth here - highs near 71°F (22°C), nights near 53°F (12°C), and rain falls on around 37 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Memphis is hot: 89°F (31°C) by day, 72°F (22°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.7 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Fall is mild and warm here - highs near 74°F (23°C), nights near 56°F (13°C), and expect showers on roughly 22 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter is brisk and cold here - highs near 53°F (12°C), nights near 37°F (3°C), and rain falls on around 32 of the 90 days.
Memphis temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
Choosing a season in Memphis
Best time to visit Memphis
Aim for September to December and February if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 67°F (19°C) against roughly 9 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in September.
What to pack
Pack for Memphis with lightweight, breathable clothing and serious sun protection, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Even in July, lows of 74°F (24°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Monthly highs, lows and seasonal change
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50° | 34° | 10 | 4.7 in | 6.4 h/day | 10.0 h | 32% | 71% |
| February | 55° | 37° | 11 | 6.2 in | 6.6 h/day | 10.9 h | 39% | 71% |
| March | 64° | 45° | 14 | 6.7 in | 7.7 h/day | 11.9 h | 44% | 70% |
| April | 71° | 52° | 11 | 5.5 in | 9.0 h/day | 13.0 h | 37% | 69% |
| May | 80° | 62° | 12 | 4.6 in | 10.9 h/day | 14.0 h | 40% | 72% |
| June | 87° | 70° | 10 | 3.7 in | 12.0 h/day | 14.5 h | 32% | 71% |
| July | 90° | 74° | 12 | 4.0 in | 12.3 h/day | 14.3 h | 39% | 73% |
| August | 88° | 72° | 12 | 3.8 in | 10.7 h/day | 13.5 h | 37% | 74% |
| September | 85° | 67° | 7 | 2.7 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.3 h | 23% | 69% |
| October | 74° | 56° | 7 | 3.2 in | 8.8 h/day | 11.2 h | 22% | 67% |
| November | 62° | 45° | 8 | 4.3 in | 7.4 h/day | 10.3 h | 28% | 71% |
| December | 55° | 39° | 11 | 5.8 in | 6.2 h/day | 9.8 h | 35% | 74% |
Memphis from the coldest month to the hottest
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Memphis's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 6.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
February
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 6.6 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
March
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 7.7 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 9.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
- Daylight
- 14.0 h
June
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 12.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.5 h
July
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 12.3 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
August
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 10.7 h
- Daylight
- 13.5 h
September
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
- Daylight
- 11.2 h
November
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.3 h
December
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 6.2 h
- Daylight
- 9.8 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Memphis's coolest part of the year: January, February, December.
Where Memphis sits among other climates
- Memphis sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 63°F (17°C) as an annual average, 55.0 inches (1396 mm) of precipitation and 9.0 hours of sun a day.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.