Georgia Climate Overview
R e p r e s e n t i ng G e org i a’ s E l e c t r i c C oo p e ra t i v e s
Size and elevation
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From north to south, Georgia is 320 miles, and its maximum width is about 250
miles. With an area of nearly 59,000 square miles, it is the largest state east of the
Mississippi River. Its elevation ranges from sea level along the southeast coast to
almost 5,000 feet at its highest point in the northeast.
temperature
Georgia has warm, humid summers and short, mild winters. Northern Georgia
experiences cool summers and cooler but not severe winters. All four seasons are
apparent, but spring is usually short with rather frequent periods of storminess of
varying intensity. In autumn, long periods of mild, sunny weather are the norm.
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The annual mean temperature ranges from 54 degrees Fahrenheit in the northeast
to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the south. January mean temperatures range from 36
degrees in the north to 53 degrees in the south. July mean temperatures range from
70 degrees along the North Carolina border to 84 degrees in the south.
Rainfall
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Average annual rainfall ranges between 45 inches in the south and 80 inches
in isolated areas in the northeast. The driest season is autumn, with most areas
showing a secondary minimum about May. October is normally the driest
throughout most of the state except the southeast where November is usually drier.
Snowfall
Average annual snowfall for the state is less than 3 inches. The far south region
usually does not experience snow.
Humidity
Relative humidity averages are moderately high in most of Georgia. Annual
averages at about 7 a.m. are 85%. By 1 p.m., the state average drops to 54%. In all
sections of the state, monthly averages for both the morning and afternoon are
higher in the summer than in other seasons.
Severe Weather Overview
R e p r e s e n t i ng G e org i a’ s E l e c t r i c C oo p e ra t i v e s
hurricane strikes
(1950 - 2011)
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 Georgia on average 7 days per year. April
is the month of peak occurrence. During this active
period, the most likely time of occurrence is from mid
afternoon through early evening.
Severe tornadoes may be expected in Georgia each year.
These storms have occurred during every month of the
year, but their highest frequency is in the spring. Local
windstorms, other than tornadoes, occur frequently in the
spring and early summer. These storms usually occur in
connection with thunderstorms, the more severe of which
may also produce hail.
Tornadoes
The average number of tornado days is 6 per year. During
“tornado season” (March-May), 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 data are broken down county by county.
These strong tornadoes are more likely to take place in the
month of April than in any other month.
Average Annual Tornado Count by State
(1991 - 2010)
State
Tornado Count
Rank
Florida
661
Alabama 432
Mississippi 432
Arkansas 384
Louisiana 375
North Carolina
31
6
Georgia
307
South Carolina
27
8
Tennessee 259
Hurricanes
Georgia is fortunate that a hurricane has not made landfall
along the coast in recent history. The last hurricane to
make landfall in Georgia was Hurricane David, a Category
1 hurricane, in 1979. In total, four hurricanes made
landfall in Georgia in the 20th Century: 1911, 1940, 1947,
and 1979.
Revised: 08/2012