A white Christmas in Georgia? Snow chances in Atlanta next week?

ATLANTA - For most Georgians, a "white Christmas" is either a dream or a distant memory. You’d have to go back to 2010 to find the last time snow fell across the Peach State on December 25. Now, after more than a decade of snowless Christmases, many are hoping for wintry weather in Atlanta and north Georgia this holiday season.

The last white Christmas in Georgia

On December 25, 2010, a rare Christmas Day snowstorm swept across Georgia, marking the first measurable snowfall in the Atlanta Metro area since 1881. Snowfall ranged from 1–3 inches in metro Atlanta to as much as 8 inches in the north Georgia mountains. Precipitation initially began as rain on Christmas Eve, transitioning to snow as temperatures dropped. The snow continued into December 26, bringing additional accumulations in east-central Georgia. Bitterly cold temperatures, strong winds, and icy roads created hazardous conditions, with wind chills plunging to the single digits, according to the National Weather Service.

The forecast leading up to Christmas

After a week of mild weather, sub-freezing temperatures are expected to spread across north Georgia on the weekend before Christmas. By Sunday morning, lows in the Atlanta metro area will drop to the mid-to-upper 20s. While the bitterly cold air will kick off the first weekend of winter, it won’t bring any winter precipitation. In fact, dry conditions are forecast until Christmas Eve or even Christmas Day. However, long-term models suggest that by the time moisture arrives, the cold air will have already retreated.

Wet, but not wintry Christmas Day

Forecast models indicate rain will likely return to the region by Christmas Day, accompanied by milder air that will significantly reduce the chances of a "White Christmas" for 2024. 

Even in the higher elevations, temperatures are expected to remain above average as the year draws to a close, making wintry precipitation unlikely.