Nashville Sets Daily Rain Record at 2.35 Inches

Heavy rain on November 4 broke a daily rainfall record in Nashville that had stood since the 1800s, while drought conditions persist across Middle Tennessee.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Current Conditions

Nashville Sets Daily Rain Record at 2.35 Inches

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Nashville recorded 2.35 inches of rain on November 4, 2026, surpassing the previous daily record of 1.11 inches set in the 1800s. Rainfall totals above 3 inches were recorded at National Weather Service gauges in parts of Middle Tennessee.

Why it matters

The storm arrived after Nashville recorded no measurable rain in September and no rain during the last 20 days of October, easing conditions in a region that had been dry for an extended period. Weeks and months of consistent rainfall will be needed to end the drought.

Nationwide National Weather Service rain gauges recorded Nashville at 2.35 inches for November 4, compared with the prior daily record of 1.11 inches set in the 1800s. Radar estimates indicated totals as high as 4 inches in Dickson and Houston counties, but the source does not say how those radar figures compare with final verified gauge totals.

The details

Rain fell across all of Middle Tennessee on October 31 and November 1 before the heavier totals were recorded on November 4. Nashville had no rain during the final 20 days of October, and the rainfall ended a stretch of dry weather that began in September.

September 2026: Nashville recorded no measurable rainfall.
Last 20 days of October 2026: Nashville recorded no rain.
October 31 to November 1, 2026: Rain fell across all of Middle Tennessee.
November 4, 2026: Nashville recorded 2.35 inches of rain, breaking a daily record.

Seasonal Patterns

The 2.35-inch total on November 4 more than doubled Nashville's daily record of 1.11 inches set in the 1800s, a sharp departure from the city's dry September and late October. The event shows how a single storm can break a century-old record in a region coming out of an extended dry spell.

Residents in Nashville and surrounding Middle Tennessee counties should monitor local National Weather Service forecasts for continued rainfall, since weeks of consistent rain are needed to end the drought. Drivers should use caution on roads where standing water may have collected after the heavy November 4 totals.

The takeaway

A single day of heavy rain can break a long-standing record, but ending a drought requires sustained rainfall over many weeks, so residents should continue to follow current conditions rather than assume the drought is over.