A controller of a non-volatile, dual, in-line memory modules (NVDIMM). A NVDIMM is configured to predict thermal events associated with save and restore operations prior to starting the save or restore operation. The controller of the NVDIMM includes a thermal event prediction circuit to predict whether a thermal event will occur in response to a request to perform a save or restore operation, and to cause the controller to perform an action in response to a determination that a thermal event is likely to occur. To predict the thermal event, the controller may be configured to predict a peak temperature of the save or restore operation based on a predicted temperature increase from an initial or starting temperature. The predicted temperature increase may be based on a rate of temperature change during the save or restore operation and a duration of the save or restore operation.