Atlanta, Georgia, has a humid subtropical climate featuring hot summers and mild, brief winters. Winter precipitation usually falls as rain, making snowfall an infrequent event in the metropolitan area. The city rarely experiences sustained cold air necessary for prolonged snow accumulation, unlike regions further North. Snow in Atlanta is generally more of a novelty than a seasonal certainty, often leading to an outsized public reaction when it occurs.
Defining Atlanta’s Typical Snow Season
The window for potential snow activity in Atlanta is relatively narrow, spanning late December through February. Although the climatological cool season runs from late November to late February, the true snow threat is concentrated in the heart of winter. January is statistically the month with the highest likelihood of receiving measurable snow, aligning with the period when average low temperatures hover near the freezing point.
For snow to fall and accumulate, two conditions must coincide: a sufficient moisture source and an air temperature profile that remains at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit from the cloud base to the ground. This specific alignment of cold air and precipitation is challenging to achieve in a southern latitude like Atlanta’s. Consequently, snow events outside of the January-to-February period are considered unusual occurrences.
Historical Frequency and Average Accumulation
The annual snowfall data confirms that accumulation is minimal and often nonexistent in many winters. Atlanta’s average annual snowfall is low, fluctuating between 1 to 2.2 inches, depending on the historical period measured. This small yearly average is often spread across just one or two days that receive “measurable” snowfall, defined by the National Weather Service as 0.1 inches or more.
A significant portion of winter precipitation consists of flurries or “trace” amounts that do not meet the 0.1-inch threshold for official measurement. These brief snowfalls often melt upon contact with the ground, especially in the warmer city center, resulting in zero accumulation. Therefore, the expectation should be for either no snow or a single, light dusting that quickly disappears.
Major Snow Events and Climate Extremes
While average snowfall is low, Atlanta’s history includes several high-impact snow and ice events that demonstrate the potential for extremes. The single-day record for snowfall remains 8.3 inches, measured on January 23, 1940. More recently, the “Blizzard of ’93,” officially known as the Storm of the Century, delivered 4.2 inches in mid-March, shutting down the region.
The 2014 event, commonly dubbed “Snowmageddon,” is often cited for its widespread disruption, despite recording only 2 to 2.6 inches of snow. The chaos stemmed from the timing, as the snowfall coincided with the afternoon commute. This trapped motorists and forced thousands to abandon vehicles on major roadways.
Earliest and Latest Snowfalls
The earliest recorded measurable snowfall occurred on November 11, 1968. The latest occurred on March 24, 1983, highlighting the rare possibility of snow outside the core winter months.