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 Appalachian
Mountains. 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.
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.
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.
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 90s Readings of 90 or higher can be expected on 70 to 80 days. Overnight lows usually range from the upper 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 mid 50s to lower 60s. Lows average in the mid 30s. 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 is common in Peachtree City's 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.
| Average Date of First and Last Frost | ||
| City | Last Frost | First Frost |
| Albany | 03/31 | 10/26 |
| Atlanta | 04/10 | 10/25 |
| Augusta | 04/15 | 10/23 |
| Blairsville | 05/21 | 09/29 |
| Brunswick | 03/18 | 11/15 |
| Columbus | 04/08 | 10/27 |
| Macon | 04/04 | 10/25 |
| Rome | 04/21 | 10/12 |
| Savannah | 03/30 | 10/31 |
| Waycross | 04/05 | 10/22 |
| Atlanta | Athens | Macon | Columbus | Blairsville | |
| Earliest Date | October 18, 1948 | October 09, 2000 | October 14, 1988 | October 21, 1989 | September 14, 1958 |
| Latest Date | December 12, 1998 | December 6, 1978 | December 6, 1978 | December 14, 2004 | November 6, 1950/2004 |
 |
|||||
| Atlanta | Athens | Macon | Columbus | |
| Average Date | January 17 | January 14 | January 23 | January 27 |
| Earliest Date | November 11, 1968 | November 11, 1968 | November 24, 1950 | December 18, 1996 |
| Latest Date | March 13, 1993 | March 13, 1993 | March 13, 1993 | March 13, 1993 |
| Atlanta | Athens | Macon | Columbus | |
| Average snowfall (inches) | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| Maximum snowfall (inches) | 10.9 | 12.0 | 16.5 | 14.0 |
| Atlanta | Athens | Macon | Columbus | |
| Number of Days snowfall > 0.01 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Number of Days snowfall = Trace | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 |