Cold air spilling into north Georgia behind a strong low pressure center and associated cold front produced a period of light to moderate snow across portions of north Georgia during the afternoon of December 24 into the early morning of December 25.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS FFC wrote it up.
Cold air spilling into north Georgia behind a strong low pressure center and associated cold front produced a period of light to moderate snow across portions of north Georgia during the afternoon of December 24 into the early morning of December 25.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Atlanta, GA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 24, 2:50 PM EST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 250 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020 .SHORT TERM /Tonight through Friday Night/... A deep, dynamic upper-level trough is continuing its push across the Southeast today, keeping north and central Georgia within a region of upper-level divergence and strong ascent. The surface cold front and associated rain shield will continue pushing through central and eastern Georgia through the rest of the afternoon. Rain will exit the CWA by early evening, with cold air advection and continued ascent forced by the trough/DPVA in its wake. These dynamics coupled with lingering mid- and low-level moisture should generate a rain/snow mix across north Georgia starting mid- to late-afternoon, transitioning to all snow showers this evening. Snowfall accumulations are forecast to be 1.5 to 2 inches in the highest elevations of north Georgia (mainly above 2000 feet). Accumulations will generally be under 1 inch elsewhere, mainly along and north of a line from Rome to Jasper to Helen. The primary impact will be slippery road conditions as temperatures drop below freezing around sunset. Flurries remain a possibility as far south as central Georgia, though no accumulations will occur. Lows tonight/Christmas Day morning will be in the teens to lower 20s across north Georgia, and mid- to upper 20s across central Georgia. The WSW remains in effect until 1 AM Friday. Christmas Day will be dry as the upper-level trough pushes further east and dry northwest flow aloft settles in behind it. High temperatures tomorrow will only reach the upper 20s to mid-30s for much of north Georgia, and upper 30s to lower 40s for central Georgia. Martin .LONG TERM /Saturday through Thursday/... Things are still expected to remain quiet through the extended forecast period. The forecast starts out cold and dry in the wake of the system moving through the state right now. Temperatures quickly moderate to near seasonal normals by Sunday/Monday and settle into near or slightly above normal through the remainder of the period as the upper- level pattern de- amplifies through the first half of the upcoming week. Deep upper trough/closed low digs into the center of the country by mid-week with increasing southwesterly flow aloft over the region for the latter half of the week. Still a good bit of divergence among the medium-range models concerning the timing/strength of the system late next week, but we should see precipitation chances returning by Wed or Thu of next week. 20/01 && .AVIATION... 18Z Update... LIFR/IFR cigs at KATL likely until around 21z. Cold front is currently moving into western Georgia, where winds have shifted to W/NW. KATL winds should shift between 18z-19z, with wind speeds at 10-15 kt and gusts up to 25 kt through early evening. Rain has ended for KATL, so focus now shifts to potential for -RASN for KATL and other ATL metro sites between 01z-03z. //ATL Confidence...18Z Update... Medium to high confidence on all elements. Martin && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Athens 25 36 22 47 / 40 0 0 0 Atlanta 24 34 22 45 / 20 0 0 0 Blairsville 18 26 15 44 / 30 10 0 0 Cartersville 22 34 19 46 / 10 5 0 0 Columbus 27 40 24 49 / 10 0 0 0 Gainesville 24 32 22 45 / 30 5 0 0 Macon 26 41 22 50 / 30 0 0 0 Rome 22 34 18 48 / 10 5 0 0 Peachtree City 23 36 20 47 / 10 0 0 0 Vidalia 30 41 26 47 / 80 0 0 0 && .FFC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 1 AM EST Friday for the following zones: Fannin...Gilmer...Murray...Towns...Union. && SHORT TERM...Martin LONG TERM....01 AVIATION...Martin
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 500 AM EST Thu Dec 24 2020 GAZ001>009-011>016-019>025-027-030>039-041>062-066>076-078>086- 089>098-102>113-251000- Baldwin-Banks-Barrow-Bartow-Bibb-Bleckley-Butts-Carroll-Catoosa- Chattahoochee-Chattooga-Cherokee-Clarke-Clayton-Cobb-Coweta- Crawford-Crisp-Dade-Dawson-DeKalb-Dodge-Dooly-Douglas-Emanuel- Fannin-Fayette-Floyd-Forsyth-Gilmer-Glascock-Gordon-Greene- Gwinnett-Hall-Hancock-Haralson-Harris-Heard-Henry-Houston-Jackson- Jasper-Jefferson-Johnson-Jones-Lamar-Laurens-Lumpkin-Macon- Madison-Marion-Meriwether-Monroe-Montgomery-Morgan-Murray- Muscogee-Newton-North Fulton-Oconee-Oglethorpe-Paulding-Peach- Pickens-Pike-Polk-Pulaski-Putnam-Rockdale-Schley-South Fulton- Spalding-Stewart-Sumter-Talbot-Taliaferro-Taylor-Telfair-Toombs- Towns-Treutlen-Troup-Twiggs-Union-Upson-Walker-Walton-Warren- Washington-Webster-Wheeler-White-Whitfield-Wilcox-Wilkes- Wilkinson- 500 AM EST Thu Dec 24 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of North and Central Georgia. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight... Isolated thunderstorms are possible across portions of north and central Georgia. The primary threat will be occasional lightning and gusty winds. A few storms may approach severe limits across portions of central Georgia producing damaging winds, and possibly an isolated, brief, tornado. Rain will mix with or change to snow across portions of north Georgia this afternoon and tonight with some accumulations likely, especially in the mountains. Please see our Winter Weather Advisory (WSWFFC) and our Special Weather Statement (SPSFFC) for additional details on the potential winter weather event for this afternoon and tonight for north Georgia. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday... Very cold temperatures Friday will lead to areas of black ice on roadways across north, and potentially portions of central, Georgia. Otherwise, no hazardous weather is expected. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed through tonight.
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Peachtree City GA
1104 AM EST Thu Dec 24 2020
GAZ108-241615-
Wilcox GA-
1104 AM EST Thu Dec 24 2020
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WILCOX COUNTY UNTIL 1115 AM
EST...
At 1103 AM EST...a strong thunderstorm was near Abbeville...moving
east at 50 mph.
HAZARD...Frequent cloud to ground lightning and heavy rain.
IMPACT...Lightning is one of nature's leading killers. If you can
hear thunder...you are close enough to be struck by
lightning. Heavy rain may cause temporary street flooding
especially in poor drainage areas.
Some locations in the path of this storm include
Abbeville, Rochelle, Browning, Cedar Creek, Antioch Church, Owensboro
and Double Run.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
People outdoors should seek shelter immediately. Electrical
appliances should not be used unless in an emergency. Motorists
should slow down and be prepared for possible loss of control due to
hydroplaning.
LAT...LON 3186 8358 3206 8346 3211 8334 3209 8332
3208 8330 3205 8331 3202 8329 3201 8330
3200 8328 3199 8329 3195 8326 3195 8324
3190 8320 3189 8320 3187 8318 3185 8318
3184 8322
TIME...MOT...LOC 1603Z 252DEG 42KT 3200 8338Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Peachtree City GA 258 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020 GAZ001>004-011>016-019-250800- Dade-Walker-Catoosa-Whitfield-Chattooga-Gordon-Pickens-Dawson- Lumpkin-White-Floyd- 258 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020 ...Light Snow Accumulations and Black Ice Possible This Afternoon into Overnight... A storm system is moving across the area and will be east of the state by Midnight. On the backside of this system this afternoon into the evening hours, we could see a transition to a rain, sleet, and snow mix and then to all snow briefly before ending. Accumulations will be limited with a dusting to a half an inch in general, perhaps approaching an inch in the highest elevations of Dade and Walker counties. In addition to the light snow potential, cold air rushing in could allow for some black ice to develop even after the precipitation has ended. Winds will help dry things out but patches of black ice will be possible well into tonight, lingering into Christmas morning, so caution is advised on area roads. GAZ020>025-027-030>038-041>049-052>055-057-250800- Bartow-Cherokee-Forsyth-Hall-Banks-Jackson-Madison-Polk-Paulding- Cobb-North Fulton-Gwinnett-Barrow-Clarke-Oconee-Oglethorpe- Haralson-Carroll-Douglas-South Fulton-DeKalb-Rockdale-Walton- Newton-Morgan-Heard-Coweta-Fayette-Clayton-Henry- 258 PM EST Thu Dec 24 2020 ...Snow Flurries and Black Ice Possible Late This Afternoon into Overnight... A storm system is moving across the area and will be east of the state by Midnight. On the backside of this system this evening, we could see some snow flurries across the area before ending tonight. With the precipitation moving out so quickly, no accumulations are anticipated with these snow flurries. In addition to the flurries, cold air rushing in could allow for some black ice to develop even after the precipitation has ended. Winds will help dry things out but patches of black ice will be possible tonight, lingering into Christmas morning, so caution is advised on area roads.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 winter weather, 2 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
The Fannin County Emergency Manager reported an inch of snow north of Blue Ridge and a CoCoRaHS observer reported just over 3 inches of snow fell near Morganton during the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve.
The Union County Emergency Manager reported 3 inches of snow fell in Suches during the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve.
A trained spotter reported that an inch of snow fell in Dalton during the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve.
A report was received on social media that a half of an inch of snow fell west of Ellijay during the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve.
A CoCoRaHS observer reported that a half of an inch of snow fell southwest of Dahlonega during the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve.
A CoCoRaHS observer reported that a half of an inch of snow fell southwest of Sautee during the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve into the early morning of Christmas Day.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Georgia in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, December 2020
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 929290, 929291, 929299, 929300, 929301, 929302.