Tennessee Power Outage Season
When outages happen most in Tennessee, and what to expect.
July is historically Tennessee's busiest month for recorded power outages, part of a summer season (June–August) that accounts for about 32% of all recorded outages statewide, averaging 2.1 hours per event. 1 of Tennessee's 83 tracked counties currently carry a Reliability Grade of F.
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Tennessee outages by month
Total recorded events and average duration per event, summed across every tracked county in Tennessee.
Peak season insight
Tennessee's outage season runs June–August, accounting for 32% of all recorded outages. July has the highest frequency.
Month-by-month data table
| Month | Events | Avg duration |
|---|---|---|
| January | 3,490 | 2.2 hrs |
| February | 3,415 | 2.4 hrs |
| March | 4,193 | 2.9 hrs |
| April | 3,937 | 2.3 hrs |
| May | 5,549 | 2.3 hrs |
| June | 5,811 | 2.0 hrs |
| July | 6,181 | 1.9 hrs |
| August | 5,082 | 2.0 hrs |
| September | 4,083 | 2.0 hrs |
| October | 3,714 | 1.6 hrs |
| November | 3,341 | 1.8 hrs |
| December | 4,191 | 2.3 hrs |
This month in Tennessee
October has historically recorded 3,714 outage events across Tennessee, below the state's typical monthly average. Outages that start in October have averaged 1.6 hours.
Main causes by season
Named storms behind Tennessee's worst recorded outages, from the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Winter (December–February)
- Winter Storm Elliott
- Winter Storm
- Tornado
- Drought
- Flood
Spring (March–May)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Tornado
- High Wind
- Hail
- Strong Wind
Summer (June–August)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Heat
- Flash Flood
- Hail
- Excessive Heat
Fall (September–November)
- Tropical Storm Helene
- Drought
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Tornado
- Heavy Rain
Tennessee's worst outage events on record
The five largest outages in Tennessee by duration and customers affected.
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 3, 2022 | 305 hrs | 137,794 (33%) | Ice Storm |
| Jun 25, 2023 | 305 hrs | 120,822 (29%) | Excessive Heat |
| Jul 18, 2023 | 162 hrs | 138,851 (33%) | Heat |
| May 28, 2017 | 114 hrs | 155,108 (37%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| May 5, 2020 | 59 hrs | 132,165 (36%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
Highest-risk counties in Tennessee
Lowest reliability percentile among Tennessee's tracked counties.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | F | 8th |
| Sevier County | D | 20th |
| Stewart County | D | 21st |
| Clay County | D | 24th |
| Pickett County | D | 26th |
Live weather alerts for Tennessee
There are no active National Weather Service alerts for Tennessee right now.
These live alerts come from the National Weather Service. They are public-safety information, not an outage prediction.
Tennessee power outage FAQ
When do power outages happen most in Tennessee?
July is historically the busiest single month for recorded outages in Tennessee, and Summer (June–August) accounts for about 32% of all recorded outages across the state.
How long do power outages in Tennessee typically last?
Across Tennessee's tracked counties, the average recorded outage lasts about 2.1 hours, though individual events -- especially named storms -- can run much longer.
Which counties in Tennessee have the highest outage risk?
Shelby County, Sevier County, Stewart County, Clay County, Pickett County currently rank lowest for reliability in Tennessee. See each county's page for its full history.
Does this page predict a power outage in Tennessee?
No. It describes patterns in recorded county-level outage history, not a guaranteed future event. Check the live National Weather Service alerts below for current conditions.
Prepare for Tennessee's outage season
Sized for Tennessee's recorded outage frequency and duration.
