Georgia Weather

Georgia climate

Georgia's climate is humid subtropical across most of the state, with hot summers and mild winters that vary based on elevation and distance from the coast. Atlanta, located in the Piedmont region at roughly 1,050 feet elevation, is notably cooler than the coastal plains. The state receives 45 to 75 inches of rain annually, with the heaviest amounts in the northeast mountains.

Severe weather, including tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail, affects Georgia primarily during spring. The state also faces threats from tropical storms and hurricanes that make landfall along the Georgia coast or track inland from the Gulf of Mexico. The historic ice storm of January 2014 paralyzed the Atlanta metro area, highlighting the city's vulnerability to winter weather.

The Georgia coast experiences a maritime climate with milder temperature extremes and higher humidity. Savannah is one of the rainiest cities in the state, receiving over 49 inches of precipitation per year. Northern Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains see occasional snowfall in winter and provide relief from summer heat, with temperatures averaging 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the rest of the state.