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When does it first snow in Atlanta, GA?

At Atlanta, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Jan 10. That is the median over the last 30 snow seasons: half of seasons saw it earlier, half later. In about 1 season in 10 it came by Dec 8, and in 1 in 10 not until Feb 1 or later. The earliest was Nov 27 (2013-14) and the latest Mar 1 (2008-09). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Jan 19, and 35% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Nov 17, and the last freeze of spring around Mar 14.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; no 32°F freeze recorded yet at this station. Compare with the typical dates above. This is observed data and can lag by a day or two, and it is not a forecast.

Jan 10Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Jan 19Median first 1"+ snowfall

1.6"Average snowfall per season

0%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Nov 17Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Mar 14Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

245Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Atlanta

First day with…	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest in 30 seasons	Latest in 30 seasons	Seasons with one
0.1" of snow or more (measurable)	Jan 10	Dec 8 – Feb 1	Nov 27 (2013-14)	Mar 1 (2008-09)	55%
1" of snow or more	Jan 19	Dec 19 – Feb 19	Dec 9 (2017-18)	Mar 1 (2008-09)	35%
3" of snow or more	Feb 12	Jan 16 – Feb 26	Jan 9 (2010-11)	Mar 1 (2008-09)	15%

Based on 20 seasons (July–June, 1995-96 to 2024-25) with at least 85% complete daily snowfall records at the station. Dates are for a single day’s snowfall, so "1 inch" means one calendar day with 1" or more, not total accumulation.

Chance the first snow has already happened by a given date

Snowfall	By Nov 1	By Dec 1	By Jan 1
0.1"+ (measurable)	0%	5%	20%
1"+	0%	0%	10%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Jan 28 (median).

White Christmas odds in Atlanta

NOAA defines a white Christmas as at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25. Using the last 30 years of daily snow-depth records (1995–2024) at this station, Atlanta had that in 0% of years, at least 3 inches in 0%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.0 inches and the deepest was 0 inches. Based on 27 years with a recorded depth on Dec 25.

Chance of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground, by date

Share of the last 30 years with 1"+ snow depth within 3 days of each date. Snow cover is most likely around Jan 9 (4%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Atlanta

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Nov 17	Nov 3 – Dec 5	Oct 28 (2001) / Dec 18 (1998)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 14	Feb 18 – Mar 29	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Dec 4	Nov 15 – Dec 24	Nov 12 (2019) / Dec 25 (2020)	83%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Feb 27	Jan 22 – Mar 14	–	97%

Based on the station’s daily minimum temperature, 1995–2024. “Freeze” here means a daily low at or below the threshold, which is not the same as visible frost. Your yard can differ by several degrees and days from an airport weather station, so use these as planning odds, not guarantees.

The median stretch between the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (the freeze-free season) was about 245 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Int (USW00013874), elevation 1,011 ft. Data: NOAA NCEI GHCN-Daily. Computed by First Snow Dates; how we calculate this. Historical averages only; for a forecast see weather.gov.

Planning for winter? Heat pump vs gas furnace, propane and oil: heating cost in Georgia (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).