Athens, Georgia, is known for its mild weather, but does it snow in Athens, Georgia?
Read on to learn about the frequency of snowfall in Athens, Georgia, and the factors that contribute to its occurrence.
Athens does have many days with temperatures below freezing. Snow normally falls on 2-3 days each year. However, the snow does not last long before melting, approximately 2-3 hours.
What is the Geography And Climate Of Athens, Georgia?
Athens has a total land area of 301.29 square kilometers, while its water area totals 4.58 square kilometers.
The city’s total size is 305.87 square kilometers.
The city is perched above an assortment of crooked hills, a distinctive landscape feature of the Piedmont area.
Athens has a humid subtropical climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Tornadoes have the potential to strike the city on occasion.
The monthly average temperature ranges from 27 degrees Celsius in July to 6.4 degrees Celsius in January.
The city gets annual average precipitation of 1,180 millimeters, which is consistently high.
Does It Snow In Athens Georgia?
Most of Georgia has a humid subtropical climate, except for the highest mountains to the north, which have a mountain-like environment.
Precipitation is widespread, owing to moist winds blowing in from the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico.
During the winter, it snows in Georgia; however, the snowfall is light and irregularly dispersed over the state.
Athens, which is situated 70 miles northeast of Atlanta, has its coldest month in January.
Its temperatures range from 54.7 degrees Fahrenheit (12.6 degrees Celsius) to 33.8 degrees Fahrenheit over this period (1 degree Celsius).
Note: Throughout the year, Athens receives an average of 2.9 snowfall days and accumulates up to 2.9 inches (74 millimeters) of snow.
How Often Does It Snow in Athens, Georgia?
Snowfall begins as early as September in the hilly parts of Georgia.
However, full-fledged winter does not arrive until later, lasting from December to February throughout the rest of the state.
During this time, temperatures are frigid and often drop below freezing, especially in Athens, Georgia, as discussed below:
Snowfall in December
In Georgia, December is officially the first month of winter. Temperatures range from 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius) to 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius).
December is often the first month that several places in Georgia experience snow, with Athens receiving 0.12 inches (3 millimeters) of snowfall after an average of 0.3 snowfall days.
Snowfall in January
In Georgia, January is the coldest month of the year. Temperatures may fall below 0 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
Temperatures normally range from 52 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) to 34 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius).
Due to the freezing conditions, snow is falling in different sections of the state, with Athens getting 0.16 inches (4 millimeters) of snow during 0.6 snowfall days.
Snowfall In February
In most parts of Georgia, February marks the end of winter. Average temperatures in the state are rising as the season changes to spring.
Temperatures in the northern sections of the state are relatively moderate, with highs of 57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius) and lows of 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius).
Savannah in the south is hotter, with temperatures ranging from 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) to 64 degrees Fahrenheit (17.8 degrees Celsius).
Despite being the month with the least snow in Athens, Georgia, February is the snowiest, with an average of 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) of snow falling during 0.9 snowfall days.
Note: Each year, Athens receives just one or two days of snow.
Why Does Athens, Georgia, Receive Minimal Snowfall?
The climate in Athens, Georgia, is influenced by various factors, including latitude, topography, elevation, distance from the ocean, and continent position.
These reasons play a significant role in explaining why Athens, Georgia, rarely receives snowfall.
1. The Elevation or Altitude of Athens, Georgia
Athens (Georgia) is 782 feet / 238 meters above sea level. Normally, as altitude lowers, climatic conditions grow hotter.
That’s why the hot season lasts 3.7 months, from May 25 to September 16, with daily high temperatures averaging more than 83°F.
July is the warmest month in Athens, with average highs of 90°F and lows of 71°F.
While the cold season lasts for only 2.9 months, from November 28 to February 26, with an average daily high temperature of less than 61°F.
January is the coldest month in Athens, with an average low of 36°F and a high of 54°F but not to the extent of snowfall.
2. The Latitude of Athens, Georgia
Athens, GA, USA, has a latitude of 33.950001 and a longitude of -83.383331.
Athens, GA, USA, is in the Cities location category in the United States, with the GPS coordinates of 33° 57′ 0.0036″ N and 83° 22′ 59.9916″ W.
Around the planet, there is a link between latitude and temperature, with temperatures higher near the Equator and colder near the Poles.
The latitude makes the days in Athens vary greatly throughout the year. Athens, Georgia, doesn’t see much snow because of this.
How do Athens’ days vary throughout the year?
The shortest day in 2022 will be December 21, with 9 hours and 54 minutes of daylight; the longest day will be June 21, with 14 hours and 25 minutes of daylight.
On June 12, sunrise is at 6:21 AM, but on November 5, it won’t come until 7:56 AM.
The earliest sunset is 5:24 PM on December 4, while the latest sunset is 3 hours, 25 minutes later on June 29 at 8:48 PM.
Daylight saving time (DST) is observed in Athens in 2022, beginning on March 13, lasting 7.8 months, and ending on November 6.
3. The Precipitation in Athens, Georgia
Too little precipitation might lead to higher temperatures. The frequency of rainy days in Athens varies throughout the year.
From May 4 to August 30, the wetter season lasts 3.8 months, with a higher than 31% probability of rain on any given day.
Athens gets 12.7 rainy days in July, averaging 0.04 inches. The area gets little snow since the dry season lasts 8.2 months, from August 30 to May 4.
Athens also experiences 6.5 rainy days in October, with an average of 0.04 inches.
A wet day is one that has precipitation of any kind, whether snow or rain, or both. On average, Athens has 12.7 days of rain in the month of July.
According to this classification, rain alone is the most frequent kind of precipitation throughout the year, with a high likelihood of 43% on July 9.
4. The Topography Of The Athens Georgia
Topography causes climatic changes over extremely short distances.
These variations in temperature, moisture, wind, and sun exposure are known as microclimates.
Here’s the Athens, Georgia microclimate, which also explains why Athens, Georgia, receives little snowfall.
The Wind in Athens
Over the year, the average hourly wind speed in Athens displays modest seasonal change.
From October 21 to May 14, the windier season lasts 6.8 months, with average wind speeds greater than 4.2 miles per hour.
Athens has its highest average hourly wind speed of 5.0 miles per hour in the month of March. The quieter season lasts 5.2 months, from May 14 to October 21.
August is the calmest month in Athens, with an average hourly wind speed of 3.3 miles per hour.
In Athens, the prevailing average hourly wind direction changes throughout the year.
For 3.1 months, from August 12 to November 14, the wind is mostly from the east, with a high proportion of 43% on September 7.
For 8.9 months, from November 14 to August 12, the wind is mostly from the west, with a high proportion of 41% on January 1.
The Clouds In Athens
In Athens, the average proportion of the sky covered by clouds varies seasonally throughout the year.
In Athens, the clearer season starts about July 29 and lasts for 3.9 months, finishing around November 25.
In Athens, October is the clearest month of the year, with the sky largely clear or partly cloudy 66% of the time.
The cloudier season starts about November 25 and lasts 8.1 months, ending around July 29.
In Athens, January is the cloudiest month of the year, with the sky overcast or mostly cloudy 51% of the time.
The Rainfall in Athens
We display the rainfall gathered over a sliding 31-day period centered on each day of the year to highlight the variance between the months rather than the monthly totals.
Monthly rainfall in Athens varies according to the season.
Athens receives rain throughout the year. With an average rainfall of 4.4 inches, February is the wettest month in Athens.
May had the least rain in Athens, with an average rainfall of 3.0 inches.
The Humidity Athens
The perceived humidity in Athens varies greatly seasonally.
The muggier season lasts 4.5 months, from May 18 to October 2, and the comfort level is humid, oppressive, or awful at least 22% of the time.
July has the most humid days in Athens, with 26.0 days that are muggy or worse.
February has the fewest humid days in Athens, with 0.0 days that are muggy or worse.
Note: The snowfall in Athens, Georgia, is influenced by various factors, including latitude, topography, elevation, distance from the ocean, and continent position.
The microclimate in Athens, Georgia, also explains why Athens, Georgia, receives little snowfall.
Final Verdict
Does it snow in Athens Georgia?
Athens experiences winter, with temperatures dropping below freezing on many occasions.
The city also gets an average snowfall of 2.9 inches throughout the winter, which occurs two or three times each year.
However, snow does not last long before melting completely, usually within two to three hours. Thanks for reading!
