Tuesday's winter storm results in record snowfall in Atlanta, surrounding areas
ATLANTA - An unusual winter storm swept through the Deep South on Tuesday, bringing significant and even once-in-a-lifetime snowfall to unexpected areas. Some areas in the South saw more snow on Tuesday than they have seen in at least 130 years.
Unfortunately, the storm also caused widespread issues across several states, including thousands of delayed or canceled flights, hundreds of abandoned or damaged vehicles, and tragic loss of life in Texas and Alabama.
Snowfall Totals in Georgia
The National Weather Service has released snowfall totals for Georgia, with Atlanta setting a record for Jan. 21 with 1.1 inches at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Snowfall Totals by Location:
- Atlanta/Hartsfield-Jackson: 1.1 inches
- Midtown Atlanta: 0.4 inches
- Barnesville: 1.5 inches
- Buford: 0.2 inches
- Covington: 1.3 inches
- Decatur: 0.5 inches
- East Lake: 0.8 inches
- Ellenwood: 1 inch
- Fayetteville: 1 inch
- Flowery Branch: 0.1 inches
- Forsyth: 2.2 inches (highest in metro Atlanta)
- Grant Park/Zoo Atlanta: 0.5 inches
- Gray: 1.5 inches
- Griffin: 1.8 inches
- Hog Mountain: 0.3 inches
- Jefferson: 0.8 inches
- Jonesboro: 2 inches
- Lagrange: 1 inch
- Locust Grove: 1 inch
- Madison: 1.3 inches
- McDonough: 1 inch
- Monroe: 0.7 inches
- Newnan: 1.1 inches
- Ola: 1 inch
- Reese: 0.8 inches
- Shady Dale: 1 inch
- Sharpsburg: 1 inch
- Stockbridge: 1 inch
- Tucker: 0.5 inches
Northern metro Atlanta areas, including most of Kennesaw, Marietta, and Acworth, received no measurable snowfall.
The heaviest snowfall in Georgia was recorded in Cordele (Crisp County) with 9 inches, followed by Camilla (Mitchell County) with 8 inches.
RELATED
- Treacherous conditions in Snellville preventing drivers from getting vehicles home
- Drivers in DeKalb County forced to spend night in cars at gas stations
- Atlanta airport cancellations, delays | Travelers still feeling winter weather impact
Snowstorm Comparisons
What we know:
The most snow Atlanta has seen in recent years occurred on Jan. 9, 2011 (3.7 inches), and Feb. 12, 2010 (3.6 inches). Atlanta’s highest one-day totals on record are 8.3 inches on Jan. 23, 1940, and 7.9 inches on March 24, 1983.
This week’s storm marked the second significant snow event of 2025, with the first occurring on Jan. 10, bringing 2–3 inches of snow to metro Atlanta.
Historical Impact and Lessons Learned
The backstory:
The snowstorm of Jan. 28, 2014, remains etched in the memories of many. Dubbed "Snowmageddon" or "Snowpocalypse," it brought 2.5–3 inches of snow to Atlanta, paralyzing the city. Roads became impassable, trapping drivers for hours, and children were forced to sleep in schools. A total of 13 people lost their lives across the region.
Since then, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has improved its preparedness for winter storms by using brine on roads and deploying snow removal trucks and plows when necessary.
RELATED: Snowmageddon 10 years later: What Georgia has learned
Tuesday’s storm once again highlighted the challenges winter weather poses in the Deep South, but it also underscored the importance of preparation and swift response in mitigating widespread disruption.
Despite Gov. Brian Kemp declaring a State of Emergency and GDOT's mobilization, many drivers still faced challenges during their Tuesday and Wednesday commutes and were involved in crashes or forced to abandon their vehicles.