I-40 · TN
I-40 Memphis to Nashville: road conditions right now
Memphis, TN to Nashville, TN
I-40 crosses West and Middle Tennessee between Memphis and Nashville, crossing the Tennessee River about halfway. Winter storms here bring ice as well as snow, and TDOT SmartWay is the official source for conditions and incidents.
Conditions at Mon, 3:02 AM EST
Highest risk along I-40: 3 of 5 (moderate), departing at that time.
- No active NWS alerts on this route.
The road authority linked below has the final word on closures and chain requirements.
30 min of moderate risk, worst between Lexington, TN and New Johnsonville, TN (rain)
Time in weather: 30 min moderate · 2 h 39 min clear
Conditions: Light rain, Light rain showers, Rain showers and more
Checkpoints along I-40
| Where | You pass | Weather | Risk | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | Mon 4:00 AM | 64°F | low | Nothing flagged |
| Hickory Withe, TN | Mon 4:30 AM | 63°F | low | Likely light rain |
| Bells, TN | Mon 5:00 AM | 62°F | low | Light rain |
| Lexington, TN | Mon 5:30 AM | 60°F | moderate | Likely steady rain — reduced traction |
| New Johnsonville, TN | Mon 6:00 AM | 59°F | low | Sources differ: NWS says Slight Chance Rain Showers at 55°F |
| Dickson, TN | Mon 6:30 AM | 57°F | low | Sources differ: NWS says Slight Chance Rain Showers at 53°F |
| Nashville, TN | Mon 7:00 AM – 7:09 AM | 58°F | low | Nothing flagged |
Why this stretch is hard in winter
- Before winter storms TDOT brines heavily traveled interstates and the spots most likely to freeze: hills, curves, ramps, bridges and interchanges.
- In storms TDOT has run extended HELP roadside-assistance routes on I-40, west of Nashville as far as the Tennessee River.
- The route spans two NWS offices: Memphis forecasts West Tennessee and Nashville forecasts Middle Tennessee, so an advisory can cover one end and not the other.
What this page checks
- Hourly forecast at every checkpoint for the time you would be there: temperature, precipitation type and rate, gusts, visibility.
- Active National Weather Service watches, warnings, and advisories on the route.
- Snow on the ground (NOAA SNODAS) and the Weather Prediction Center winter impact outlook.
- Pavement temperature and surface state from state DOT road sensors, when you are leaving within a few hours.
- Chain controls, closures, and winter road condition reports from state DOT feeds where they are published openly.
- Seasonal closures of mountain roads the router might otherwise use.
Official sources for this corridor
Questions drivers ask about I-40
- Where can I check I-40 road conditions in Tennessee?
- TDOT SmartWay shows live traffic, incidents and camera views. This page adds the hourly forecast at each stretch and any active NWS alerts from the Memphis and Nashville offices.
- Does TDOT treat I-40 before ice storms?
- Yes. TDOT pretreats heavily traveled interstates with brine ahead of winter storms, along with bridges, ramps, hills and curves that are most likely to freeze.
Conditions change by the hour. This page is a planning aid built on public forecasts and DOT feeds; the road authority linked above has the final word on closures and chain requirements.
Other corridors: I-80 across Wyoming · I-70 through the Colorado mountains · I-80 over Donner Pass · I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass · I-84 through the Blue Mountains · I-15 over Cajon Pass · all corridors