Shelby County, TN | 105-115 mph Design Wind Speed | Tennessee Building Code (IBC) | Tornadoes & New Madrid Seismic Zone | Exposure B/C
Calculate Memphis Wind Loads Now →Memphis, located in Shelby County, Tennessee, has moderate wind load requirements that account for its Mississippi River exposure and vulnerability to severe weather including tornadoes, thunderstorms, and tropical system remnants. Tennessee has adopted the International Building Code (IBC) with state-specific amendments. Design wind speeds for Risk Category II structures typically range from 105-115 mph (3-second gust) based on ASCE 7-22 wind speed maps.
These requirements exist because Memphis experiences frequent severe weather including tornadoes, severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, and exposure to tropical system remnants that track inland from the Gulf Coast. Additionally, Memphis sits atop the New Madrid Seismic Zone, one of the most active earthquake zones in the central United States, requiring unique multi-hazard design considerations. Memphis's location along the Mississippi River creates varied exposure conditions—from sheltered urban Exposure B in downtown and Beale Street areas to more exposed Exposure C conditions near the riverfront and open floodplain areas.
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category II): 105-115 mph (3-second gust, varies by location)
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category III): ~120-130 mph
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category IV): ~130-140 mph
Exposure Category: B (urban/Beale Street), C (Mississippi River/floodplain)
Building Code: Tennessee adopts International Building Code (IBC) with amendments
Wind Load Standard: ASCE 7-22 (current edition)
County: Shelby County
Weather Risks: Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, tropical system remnants, Mississippi River exposure
Special Considerations: New Madrid Seismic Zone, multi-hazard design, Mississippi River floodplain
Memphis's design wind speed of 105-115 mph for Risk Category II structures reflects the city's inland location, tornado vulnerability, and exposure to severe convective weather. Memphis wind speed requirements account for:
Memphis's location in the Mid-South creates unique wind load conditions. The city experiences both inland severe weather (tornadoes, severe thunderstorms) and remnant tropical systems from Gulf Coast landfalls. The Mississippi River creates a significant exposure variation—downtown Memphis and Beale Street areas maintain urban Exposure B, while riverfront properties, Tom Lee Park, and areas within the Mississippi River floodplain require Exposure C analysis due to reduced upwind obstructions across the river and floodplain.
Calculating wind loads for Memphis projects requires following ASCE 7-22 methodology as adopted by the Tennessee Building Code. The fundamental velocity pressure equation is:
qz = 0.00256 Kz Kzt Kd Ke V²
For Memphis with V = 110 mph (typical central Memphis) and standard urban conditions, the resulting pressures are moderate. A Memphis project with:
Results in a velocity pressure of approximately qz = 22.4 psf—moderate compared to coastal hurricane zones but appropriate for Memphis's tornado and severe weather exposure.
Important for Mississippi River Exposure: Projects located on the riverfront, Tom Lee Park area, Mud Island, or within the Mississippi River floodplain should use Exposure Category C due to reduced upwind obstructions across the river and open floodplain. For the same building at 15 ft height with Exposure C, Kz increases to approximately 0.85, resulting in qz = 27.2 psf—a significant 21% increase in velocity pressure compared to Exposure B. Engineers must carefully evaluate exposure conditions based on upwind fetch characteristics and Mississippi River proximity.
Tennessee has adopted the International Building Code (IBC) with state-specific amendments administered by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance. Memphis and Shelby County enforce these requirements through local building inspection departments.
Key Memphis building code considerations:
You can access Memphis building permits and requirements through the City of Memphis Construction Code Enforcement or Shelby County Government.
Memphis projects must be classified into Risk Categories per ASCE 7-22 Table 1.5-1. Higher risk categories require increased design wind speeds:
| Risk Category | Memphis Design Wind Speed | Building Types |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Category I | ~100-105 mph | Agricultural facilities, temporary structures, minor storage |
| Risk Category II | 105-115 mph | Residential, commercial, most standard occupancies |
| Risk Category III | ~120-130 mph | Schools, assembly >300, substantial hazardous materials |
| Risk Category IV | ~130-140 mph | Hospitals, fire stations, emergency shelters, EOCs |
Memphis requires careful exposure category evaluation due to the Mississippi River and varying terrain conditions:
Exposure Category B (Urban Memphis): Most of downtown Memphis, Beale Street, residential neighborhoods, and established commercial districts qualify as Exposure B due to dense urban development with buildings, trees, and other obstructions. Exposure B assumes urban and suburban areas with buildings having heights generally less than 30 feet extending more than 800 feet upwind. This applies to the majority of Memphis's developed areas away from the Mississippi River.
Exposure Category C (Mississippi River/Floodplain): Properties located on the riverfront, Tom Lee Park, Mud Island, Greenbelt Park, and areas within the Mississippi River floodplain should use Exposure C. The river creates open terrain conditions with minimal upwind obstructions. Buildings with direct exposure to the Mississippi River or located within the open floodplain areas have significantly reduced upwind surface roughness, requiring Exposure C analysis with higher wind pressures (approximately 21% increase at typical building heights).
Engineering Judgment Required: The transition between Exposure B (urban) and Exposure C (river/floodplain) requires professional engineering judgment. Consider upwind fetch distances, intervening obstructions, and proximity to the Mississippi River or large open areas.
Memphis's wind load requirements are significantly influenced by the city's exposure to tornadoes and severe thunderstorms:
Tornado Vulnerability: Memphis and Shelby County experience frequent tornado activity, particularly during March through May severe weather season. The area has been struck by numerous significant tornadoes including EF3 and EF4 events. Tornadoes are a primary design consideration for Memphis wind loads, with tornado-prone areas requiring robust structural design and proper anchorage to resist extreme localized wind events.
Severe Thunderstorms: Memphis experiences frequent severe thunderstorm activity with damaging straight-line winds, large hail, and flash flooding. Severe thunderstorm winds can produce sustained high winds and wind gusts exceeding 70-80 mph across the metro area. Derecho events (organized lines of severe thunderstorms) periodically impact the Mid-South region, producing widespread wind damage.
Tropical System Remnants: When Gulf Coast hurricanes make landfall in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Alabama, the remnants often track inland through Tennessee. While greatly weakened from landfall, these tropical remnants can still produce sustained winds of 40-60 mph and wind gusts exceeding 70 mph across Memphis. Recent examples include remnants of Hurricane Laura (2020), Hurricane Zeta (2020), and Hurricane Ida (2021).
New Madrid Seismic Zone: While primarily an earthquake hazard, the New Madrid Seismic Zone requires multi-hazard design considerations. Structural systems must be designed to resist both wind loads and seismic forces, often requiring special detailing of connections, bracing, and lateral force-resisting systems. The combination of seismic and wind requirements can control structural design in Memphis.
Memphis zip codes span the city and Shelby County with relatively consistent wind speed requirements. Common Memphis zip codes include:
The WindLoadCalc.com wind load calculator automatically applies the appropriate Memphis wind speed based on your specific zip code or street address, accounting for local terrain conditions and Mississippi River exposure.
Wind load calculations for Memphis building permits have varying PE requirements depending on building type and complexity:
Tennessee Professional Engineers must be licensed through the Tennessee State Board of Architectural and Engineering Examiners.
Engineers, architects, and contractors should reference these official resources for Memphis wind load compliance:
The wind load calculator at WindLoadCalc.com automatically applies all Memphis-specific requirements:
WindLoadCalc.com automatically handles all Memphis-specific requirements including the 105-115 mph design velocity, Exposure Category B/C assignment based on Mississippi River proximity, Risk Category adjustments, and component pressure coefficients. Simply enter your Memphis project address or zip code for instant, accurate calculations.
Calculate Memphis Wind Loads Now →Memphis's wind load requirements differ from Nashville and Middle Tennessee due to geographic location and weather exposure:
| Requirement | Memphis (West TN) | Nashville (Middle TN) |
|---|---|---|
| Design Wind Speed | 105-115 mph | 105-115 mph (similar) |
| Exposure Category | B (urban), C (Mississippi River/floodplain) | Primarily B (urban) |
| Primary Weather Risk | Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, tropical remnants, Mississippi River exposure | Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, hilly terrain |
| Seismic Zone | New Madrid Seismic Zone (high seismic risk) | Lower seismic risk |
| Special Considerations | Mississippi River floodplain, multi-hazard design (wind + seismic) | Topographic effects, hilly terrain |
While Memphis and Nashville have similar baseline wind speed requirements, Memphis projects must consider Mississippi River exposure (Exposure C), New Madrid Seismic Zone multi-hazard design, and floodplain conditions. Nashville projects more commonly address topographic effects from Middle Tennessee's hilly terrain. Both cities experience significant tornado risk requiring robust structural design.
Memphis's location on the Mississippi River creates unique wind load challenges:
Engineers designing riverfront projects should conduct detailed exposure analysis considering the Mississippi River's influence on upwind surface roughness and the transition from urban Exposure B to open Exposure C conditions.
WindLoadCalc.com provides instant, accurate wind load calculations for Memphis projects. Our software automatically handles the 105-115 mph velocity range, Exposure B/C determination based on Mississippi River proximity, and generates PE-ready reports for building permit submission to Memphis or Shelby County.
Try Memphis Wind Load Calculator →