Memphis heat in 2026: How this year’s triple-digit days and warm nights compare

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Yes, it’s November, and summer’s heat may feel like a distant memory. But before we put 2026 behind us, let’s take a look back at just how hot it got in Memphis—and how often the heat stuck around after sunset.

Memphis recorded 10 days with a high temperature of at least 100 degrees in 2026, along with 11 days when the low temperature stayed at 80 degrees or warmer, according to historical temperature tables provided for this article.

Both totals put 2026 among the higher-ranking years in the supplied records, though neither came close to the extreme heat of 1980.

A dozen years near the top

The hottest temperature recorded in Memphis in 2026 was 103 degrees on September 6. The city’s 10 triple-digit days place the year behind 11 individual years in the provided records.

That makes 2026 12th when ranking individual years by their number of triple-digit days.

For comparison, Memphis had four days at or above 100 degrees in 2025 and 18 in 2022. The year with the most in the provided records was 1980, when the city recorded 33 triple-digit days and reached 108 degrees on July 13.

The heat stuck around at night, too

Memphis also had 11 days with lows of at least 80 degrees in 2026, tying 2022 and 2011 for sixth place for the number of 80-degree lows.

The warmest daily low was 81 degrees, recorded five times: July 27, July 29, August 13, August 16 and August 20.

That is nearly twice the six 80-degree lows recorded in 2025. In 1980, Memphis recorded 30 days with lows at or above 80 degrees, including three days when the low was 84.

Why the heat after sunset matters

A hot day can be exhausting, but the body needs time to recover once the sun goes down. When the air stays warm overnight, that relief can be harder to find—particularly for people without air conditioning or a cool place to sleep.

Buildings can also hold onto heat from the day. If another hot afternoon follows a warm night, indoor temperatures may remain uncomfortable and heat exposure can add up over several days.

And the thermometer does not tell the whole story. These figures reflect actual air temperatures, not the heat index. Humidity can make it feel hotter and make it harder for sweat to cool the body, so dangerous heat can occur even when the air temperature stays below 100 degrees.

During hot weather, drink water regularly, take breaks in air conditioning and check on neighbors who may be vulnerable. Never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle. If someone becomes confused or loses consciousness in the heat, call 911 and begin cooling them immediately.

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