Wild ride for temperatures: A look at Middle Tennessee’s first major heat wave of 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Oppressive heat is done, but high humidity remains.

The jaw-dropping heat wave that closed the month of June and kicked off July is now officially complete. A heat wave is defined as a period of three or more consecutive days with temperatures in the 90s. Today, Sunday, July 5, Nashville’s high temperature was only 88 degrees, marking the end of the blistering seven-day stretch.

During our record-setting round of summer sizzle, Nashville achieved many notable milestones.

First, the low temperature last Sunday, June 28, was only 79°. That’s remarkably warm for a minimum temperature. Since 2013, there were only three other times the low in Nashville was that high.

Then, on Thursday, July 2, Nashville soared to 100 degrees for the first time in nearly a year. That day’s high missed the record by one.

Friday, July 3, turned even hotter. The airport thermometer peaked at 101° that afternoon setting a new record high for the date.

Finally, today, July 5, the high temperature was only 88 degrees. For the first time in a week, the temperature was held below 90. However, what’s stunning is that the high was set at 9:41 a.m., well before the typical high temperature time of day — mid-to-late afternoon.

In the coming days, we’ll get a break from what we endured last week. Expect spotty showers and storms. Clouds and rain in the area will hold temperatures to more seasonable levels, in the upper 80s and low 90s.

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