North and Central Georgia Climatology

Data from NWS Atlanta

An Overview of The Climatology of The Area Comprising the Northern 2/3 of The State

Variance in the climate across North Georgia is largely a function of terrain. Most of the northern half of the state is made up of rolling hills with elevation ranging from about 400 feet across the midstate to generally between 800 and 1100 feet across the rest of the area. The climate of this region is fairly uniform. A notable exception is in the northeast corner of the state occupied by the AppalachianMountains. Although average elevation in the "Northeast Georgia Mountains" is less than 2000 feet, there are mountains that reach elevations between 4000 and 5000 feet. The climate here differs significantly from the rest of North Georgia.

For a detailed summary of the Georgia Winter and Severe weather climatology, click on these links:

Climatology of the Northeast Mountains

Temperature - The area experiences all four seasons. Summers typically consist of lengthy spells of warm and humid weather. Average afternoon high temperatures are in the lower 80s. Readings of 90 or higher can be expected on 15 to 25 days. Overnight lows are usually in the 60s. Temperatures during winter months are more variable. Oftentimes, stretches of relatively mild weather will alternate with cold snaps. Winter high temperatures average in the 40s, with lows averaging in the 20s. Lows of 32 degrees or lower can be expected on 90 to 110 days each year. Spring and Autumn seasons are characterized by much variability from day to day and from year to year. The average date of first freeze in the autumn is in October. The average date of the last freeze in the spring is in April.

Precipitation - Annual rainfall amounts average over 60 inches, with measuable amounts of rain typically recorded on around 140 days each year. Snow falls on a average of 5 days each year, producing average seasonal total snowfall of about 4 to 6 inches. Averaging over many years, driest months are September and October. Wettest month is March. Thunderstorms are common in the spring and summer months. On a typical year, thunder will be heard on 50 to 60 days, and many locations have 60 to 80 inces of rain per year.

Climatology of North Georgia (excluding the Mountains)

Temperature - The area experiences all four seasons. Summers typically consist of long spells of warm and humid weather. Average afternoon high temperatures are in the upper 80s to around 90. Readings of 90 or higher can be expected on 30 to 60 days. Overnight lows usually range from the middle 60s to lower 70s. Temperatures during winter months are more variable. Oftentimes, stretches of mild weather will alternate with cold spells. Winter high temperatures average in the 50s. Lows average in the mid to lower 30s. Lows of 32 degrees or lower can be expected on 50 to 70 days. Spring and Autumn seasons are characterized by much variability from day to day and from year to year. The average date of first freeze in the autumn is in late October. The average date of the last freeze in the spring is in early April.

Precipitation - A measurable amount of rain falls on about 120 days each year, producing The amounts averaging between 50 and 55 inches. As for snowfall, the average annual total is 1 or 2 inches in the northern counties. Usually this snowfall occurs on just one or two days. Averaging over many years, driest months are September and October. Wettest month is March. Thunderstorms are common in the spring and summer months. On a typical year, thunder will be heard on 50 to 60 days.

Climatology of Central Georgia

Temperature - The area experiences all four seasons. Summers typically consist of long spells of warm and humid weather. Average afternoon high temperatures are in the lower 90's Readings of 90 or higher can be expected on 70 to 80 days. Overnight lows usually range from the upper 60's to lower 70's.Temperatures during winter months are more variable. Oftentimes, stretches of mild weather will alternate with cold spells. Winter high temperatures average in the mid 50's to lower 60's. Lows average in the mid 30's. Lows of 32 degrees or lower can be expected on 40 to 50 days. Spring and Autumn seasons are characterized by much variability from day to day and from year to year. The average date of first freeze is in mid-November. The average date of the last freeze in the spring is in mid to late March.

Precipitation - A measurable amount of rain falls on about 120 days each year, producing amounts averaging between 45 and 50 inches. As for snowfall, the average annual total is less than one inch. Averaging over many years, driest months are September and October. Wettest month is March. Thunderstorms are common in the spring and summer months. On a typical year, thunder will be heard on 50 to 60 days.

Severe Weather in the County Warning Area

For a full summary of the Georgia Severe Weather climatology, click here: Georgia Severe Weather Climatology

Severe weather is common in the National Weather Service's Peachtree City County Warning Area (CWA). Damaging thunderstorm winds, large hail, and tornadoes strike the area each year.

Damaging winds occur, on average, 19 days per year. These events have taken place in every month of the year, but tend to be most frequent during the spring and summer months. The peak month is July during which more than 500 events were reported over the past 40 years. During the favored months, the most likely time of day for wind damage is mid afternoon through early evening.

Large hail pelts the CWA on average 7 days per year. April is the month of peak occurrence, but many episodes have also been reported in the other spring and summer months. During this active period, the most likely time of occurrence is from mid afternoon through early evening.

The average number of tornado days is 6 per year. While tornadoes have been reported in all months of the year, most occur in the March-April-May time frame. During this "tornado season" the most likely time of occurrence is from mid afternoon through early evening.

Tornado intensities of F2 or greater are involved in 37% of the events when the data are broken down into a county-by-county basis. These strong tornadoes are more likely to occur during the month of April than in any other month. During the period 1950 - 1993, 72 people lost their lives in tornadoes. Almost 1700 were injured.

First and Last Frost

City	Last Frost	First Frost
Albany	Mar-26	Oct-26
Atlanta	Apr-26	Oct-26
Augusta	Apr-26	Oct-26
Blairsville	May-26	Sep-26
Brunswick	Mar-26	Nov-26
Columbus	Apr-26	Oct-26
Macon	Apr-26	Oct-26
Rome	Apr-26	Oct-26
Savannah	Mar-26	Oct-26
Waycross	Apr-26	Oct-26

Normal First Freeze

Earliest and Latest Freeze

	Last Spring Freeze	First Fall Freeze		Last Spring Freeze	First Fall Freeze		Last Spring Freeze	First Fall Freeze
Year	Last Spring Freeze	First Fall Freeze	Year	Last Spring Freeze	First Fall Freeze	Year	Last Spring Freeze	First Fall Freeze
1948	03/29	10/18	1949	03/19	11/18	1950	04/15	11/21
1951	03/22	11/03	1952	03/16	10/29	1953	03/05	11/26
1954	03/16	10/31	1955	03/29	11/20	1956	03/25	11/ 9
1957	03/10	10/28	1958	03/22	11/29	1959	03/18	11/ 7
1960	03/23	11/08	1961	02/26	11/09	1962	04/16	10/25
1963	03/23	11/03	1964	03/31	11/21	1965	03/22	10/25
1966	04/06	11/02	1967	03/19	11/05	1968	03/24	10/26
1969	03/27	11/05	1970	04/03	11/16	1971	04/03	11/ 8
1972	04/02	11/18	1973	04/11	11/10	1974	03/22	11/13
1975	03/31	11/14	1976	03/18	10/29	1977	04/06	11/12
1978	04/22	12/06	1979	03/26	11/15	1980	03/04	11/19
1981	03/20	11/21	1982	04/07	11/05	1983	04/20	11/12
1984	03/11	11/13	1985	02/16	12/02	1986	04/23	11/13
1987	04/04	11/12	1988	03/17	11/29	1989	02/25	11/17
1990	03/21	11/30	1991	03/05	11/04	1992	04/03	11/ 8
1993	03/15	11/01	1994	03/11	12/11	1995	03/10	11/ 4
1996	03/22	11/03	1997	03/16	11/16	1998	03/13	12/18
1999	03/12	11/03	2000	04/09	11/15	2001	03/27	10/28
2002	03/23	11/18	2003	03/31	11/14	2004	03/23	12/14
2005	03/09	11/17	2006	03/26	11/21	2007	04/08	11/ 7
2008	03/25	11/17	2009	03/04	12/05	2010	03/07	11/ 7
2011	02/12	11/11	2012	02/13	11/25	2013	03/27	xx/ x

First Snow Occurance

First Occurrence of Snow Reported between November 1 - March 31 (Greater than a Trace of Snowfall)
	Atlanta	Athens	Macon	Columbus
Average Date:	January 16	January 16	January 21	January 27
Earliest Date:	November 11, 1968	November 11, 1968	November 24, 1950	December 18, 1996
Latest Date:	March 24, 1983	March 31, 2015	March 14, 2024	March 13, 1993

Normal Snowfall

Maximum and Average Snowfall Totals between November 1 - March 31
	Atlanta	Athens	Macon	Columbus
Average Snowfall:	1.30	1.70	0.40	0.30
Maximum Snowfall:	10.90	12.00	16.50	14.00
Date:	(1935-1936)	(1935-1936)	(1972-1973)	(1972-1973)

Christmas Snowfall

Snowfall on Christmas Day
	Atlanta	Athens	Macon	Columbus
Number of Days Snowfall greater than or equal to 0.01":	3	2	1	0
Number of Days Snowfall = Trace:	13	1	0	2

Thanksgiving Normals and Records

Thanksgiving Climatology
	Atlanta	Athens	Macon	Columbus
Normal High:	58	61	65	66
Normal Low:	40	39	42	41
Warmest High:	76	75	79	80
	(11/24/16, 11/26/08)	(11/24/27)	(11/22/79, 11/28/85)	(11/28/85)
Warmest Low:	64	61	65	63
	(11/28/85)	(11/24/85)	(11/28/85)	(11/25/99)
Coldest High:	37	41	48	49
	(11/26/03, 11/30/11, 11/28/12)	(11/27/30)	(11/23/72)	(11/28/13)
Coldest Low:	21	22	25	21
	(11/30/11)	(11/30/11, 11/28/13)	(11/26/70, 11/28/13)	(11/28/13)
Most Rainfall:	1.51	2.00	1.70	2.98
	(11/25/99)	(11/28/18)	(11/28/63)	(11/24/83)
Most Snowfall:	Trace	0.00	0.00	0.00
	(11/26/36, 11/24/38)