Atlanta, GA climate
Atlanta has mild winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 33°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Atlanta feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Atlanta weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 53° | 33° | 4.8" | 0.2" | 11 | 0 | 35° – 50° |
| February | 57° | 36° | 4.8" | 0.2" | 9 | 0 | 39° – 56° |
| March | 65° | 42° | 4.9" | 0.1" | 10 | 0 | 47° – 63° |
| April | 73° | 49° | 4.0" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 56° – 66° |
| May | 81° | 58° | 3.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 64° – 75° |
| June | 87° | 66° | 4.4" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 71° – 80° |
| July | 89° | 70° | 5.0" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 76° – 83° |
| August | 88° | 69° | 4.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 74° – 84° |
| September | 83° | 63° | 4.0" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 70° – 80° |
| October | 74° | 51° | 3.5" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 59° – 67° |
| November | 63° | 41° | 4.1" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 47° – 58° |
| December | 55° | 36° | 4.7" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 36° – 56° |
| Year | 72° | 51° | 52.1" | 0.5" | 109 | 0 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Atlanta
Atlanta gets 52 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 109 days a year.
About 231 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 24 and the first one by November 8. That leaves about 231 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 86% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Atlanta
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Atlanta, 60% of that work is heating and 40% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Atlanta and its neighbors
Atlanta borders 12 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.9°. Sandy Springs has the coldest January nights (33°) and Gresham Park the hottest July afternoons (90°). Atlanta’s January low is 33° and its July high 89°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Atlanta compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Atlanta averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.5°). The shift is smaller than in 54% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Atlanta’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 36° to 56°. July is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Atlanta’s climate
What is the coldest month in Atlanta?
January, with a typical high of 53° and a low of 33°.
What is the hottest month in Atlanta?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 70°. About 54 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Atlanta get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.5 inches.
When is the first frost in Atlanta?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 8, and the last spring frost by March 24.
What is the rainiest month in Atlanta?
July, with 5.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 52 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Atlanta itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Atlanta 9nw, GA (6 mi, snow) and Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, GA (6 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.