2010 Metro Mitigation Plan

Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
2.0 Community Profile
GEOGRAPHY – LOCATION AND AREA
Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County is located in middle Tennessee along the banks of
the Cumberland River. The community encompasses 533 square miles. Three major
interstate highways I-40, I-65, and I-24 converge in Nashville. Positioned within 600 miles
and less than one day’s drive from 50 percent of the United States population and less than 6
hours drive to 13 other states, Nashville enjoys a prime geographic location (See Figure 2-1).
The City of Nashville was settled in 1779 and became the state capital in 1843. The City of
Nashville and Davidson County governments were consolidated into one entity, Metropolitan
Nashville-Davidson County, in April 1963.
CLIMATE
Nashville has a mild climate that is common throughout the southeastern part of the United
States with four distinct seasons and light snowfall in the winter. Mean annual temperatures
range from 37 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit with an average July high temperature of 89 degrees
and an average winter January high of 46 degrees. The average annual precipitation is 48.1
inches and the average humidity at noon is 57 percent. Table 2-1 presents normal climate
statistics for the community.
Table 2-1. Normal Climate Statistics for Nashville-Davidson County, Tennessee
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Days with Precipitation 11 10 12 11 11 10 10 8 8 7 10 11
Wind Speed (mph) 8.4 8.5 8.8 8.2 7.1 6.4 6.3 5.9 6.2 6.5 7.6 8.1
Noon Humidity (%) 64 59 54 51 56 56 57 56 57 53 59 64
Sunshine (%) 41 47 52 59 60 65 63 63 62 62 50 42
Days Clear of Clouds 6 7 8 8 8 8 8 10 11 13 9 7
Partly Cloudy Days 6 6 7 9 10 13 13 12 9 8 7 7
Cloudy Days 19 16 16 13 13 10 10 9 10 10 14 17
Snowfall (in) 3.9 3.4 1.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5
(Source: National Weather Service)
Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County
Community Profile
Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan - FINAL Page 2-1
April 2010