The climate of Georgia is a humid subtropical climate, with most of the state having short, mild winters and long, hot summers. The Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of Georgia and the hill country in the north impact the state's climate. Also, the Chattahoochee River divides Georgia into separate climatic regions with the mountain region to the northwest being cooler than the rest of the state; the average temperatures for the mountain region in January and July are and respectively. Winter in Georgia is characterized by mild temperatures and little snowfall around the state, with the potential for snow and ice increasing in the northern parts of the state. Summer daytime temperatures in Georgia often exceed . The state experiences widespread precipitation. Tornadoes and tropical cyclones are common.
Temperatures
Most of Georgia has a sub-tropical climate, with hot and humid summers, except at the highest elevations. Weather conditions in various localities of Georgia depend on how close they are to the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico, and their altitude. This is especially true in the mountainous areas in the northern part of the state, which are farther away from ocean waters and can be up to or higher above sea level. The areas near the Florida-Georgia border, extending from the Atlantic Ocean westward to the Chattahoochee River, experience the most subtropical weather, similar to that of Florida: hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and mild, somewhat drier winters. The USDA hardiness zones for Georgia range from Zone 6A (-10 °F to -5 °F) in the mountains to Zone 9A (20 °F to 25 °F) along the coast.
Despite having moderate weather compared to many other states, Georgia has occasional extreme weather. The highest temperature ever recorded is , while the lowest ever recorded is . Heat waves with temperatures over have often been recorded.
Precipitation
The entire state, including the North Georgia mountains, receives moderate to heavy rain, which varies from in central Georgia to approximately around the Northeast part of the state. Georgia has had severe droughts in the past, especially in 2007. Tropical Storm Alberto in July 1994 looped across central Georgia, leading to 24-hour rainfall amounts exceeding across central sections of the state. It also became the wettest tropical cyclone on record for the state of Georgia, eclipsing the record set in 1929. Snowfall, which occurs in most winters, increases in frequency and average amounts per year to the north.
Winter
Southern and southeast areas of the state experience snow much less frequently than other parts of Georgia. The Georgia Piedmont, sometimes referred to as the Blue Ridge province, is somewhat cooler in winter than the coastal areas. The Southern areas of Piedmont may receive snow every other year, while areas close to the foothills get snow a couple of times a year averaging anywhere from a trace up 2" of annual snowfall. The biggest winter threat to the northern piedmont is freezing rain which is rain that freezes on contact. The mountains of Georgia have the coolest climate and most frequent snowfall in the state, although snowfall is less than any other part of the Appalachian Mountains. The exception to this is the mountain counties of Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, White and Rabun. The mountains can average between 4 and 18 inches annually. Surrounding counties typically average 3 to 8 inches of snow annually. Elevations over 4,000 feet can have particularly brutal winters with some storms blanketing the mountains with over a foot of snow. The mountains above 3,500 feet or parts of the Appalachian trail average 10-25 inches of snow in one season. The highest mountain in Georgia, Brasstown Bald, averages 30–40 inches of snow per season. Heavy snow in the extreme northern counties is considered or more of snow in a 12-hour period or or more of snow in a 24-hour period". Watches for heavy snow are issued when a 50 percent or greater chance of or more of snow falling in a 12-hour period, or or more in a 24-hour period is expected.
Winter weather watches are issued when there is a "50 percent or greater chance of significant and damaging accumulations of ice during freezing rain situations"; these watches are normally issued 12 to 48 hours in advance. A winter storm warning for an ice storm means that icy conditions are "occurring, imminent, or have a very high probability of occurring". These warnings are usually issued when there is an 80 percent or greater chance of meeting ice storm conditions.
Blizzards in Georgia are rare. The last blizzard the state had was in March 1993.