Winter weather can be a tricky thing. Sometimes you’ll find real beauty in a fresh snowfall, the silence of a blizzard, or the delicate touch of a snowflake on your face. But other times, winter weather can be quite harsh – closing down streets and highways, and oftentimes shutting down entire cities. There are a handful of storms that have gone down in Georgia’s history as some of the worst of the worst. See how many of these horrific winter storms in Georgia you can remember for yourself. Tell us your stories in the comments!

1. Snowmageddon, 2014
Flickr Tommy Byrd
One of the most infamous winter storms in Atlanta history was dubbed Snowmageddon, and it took place on January 28, 2014. A snowfall that began after midnight brought the entire city to a standstill, with cars trapped on the interstate and ice blanketing the streets. Some drivers even abandoned their cars on the streets to walk home after a 15-mile trek took over six hours. This Atlanta ice storm was a whopper, to say the very least.
2. Storm of the Century, 1993
Flickr s p e x
Another horrific winter storm in Georgia took place in March 1993. Heavy snow started blanketing the south, with some areas of Georgia receiving up to 35 inches of snow. This storm truly went down in history as one of the absolute worst, with damages reported around $2 billion (1993 USD). This storm was dubbed the "Storm of the Century," also reportedly killing 318 people in total.

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3. SnowJam, 1982
Flickr Tommy Byrd
In January 1982, a disastrous winter storm unleashed several inches of snow in the Atlanta, Georgia area. This storm was such a debacle, it became known as SnowJam 1982. Unfortunately, even with just a few inches of snow in the metro Atlanta area, traffic came to a standstill, with some calling it the most memorable traffic day in Atlanta’s history.
4. Georgia Ice Storm, 1973
Flickr Anne Larie Valentine
Back in 1973, Georgia was pummeled with ice, snow, sleet, and rain, causing hundreds of thousands of people in the South to lose power. While ice storms aren’t too rare in Georgia, this one was one of the most catastrophic. Temperatures plummeted, causing pipes to burst, homes to flood, and transformers to break. Cars weren’t starting, which caused many people to be stuck at home in miserable and life-threatening conditions. This amazing Georgia ice storm was unlike anything else, ever.
5. Worst Georgia Snowstorm, 1940
Wikipedia NASA
Believe it or not, the worst snowstorm in Atlanta history was back on January 23, 1940, when 10.3 inches of snow fell on the city. While now we may have the tools to handle such a storm, back then, it was fairly difficult to navigate. Workers tried clearing the streets overnight, with telegraph messenger boys bringing messages while on skis. The city was frozen in time for a while, which ultimately was the single largest snowfall in the city’s history.

Do you remember any of these horrific winter storms in Georgia? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section! Or if you want to take a deeper dive into the largest blizzard in Georgia history, feel free to do so.

Can’t get enough of Georgia’s amazing natural wonders? You might be interested in the seven natural wonders of Georgia, then!

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Ice Storm Atlanta

Tori Jane | November 15, 2022
  1. What were some of the most historic blizzards in Georgia?  

Some of the most historic blizzards in Georgia go down in the books as truly remarkable and wholly unforgettable. Despite its usually mild winters, there have been a few notable blizzards in Georgia including: 

 

2. Which Georgia ice storm was the worst?  

The worst Georgia ice storm on record is likely subjective; after all, everyone experiences things differently. However, the blizzard most commonly referred to as the worst blizzard in Georgia history was the incredible storm of 1993, dropping 20 inches of snow and killing at least 300. Considering that Georgia isn’t exactly a place that’s always prepared for severe winter weather, this historic winter storm in GA changed the lives of everyone who experienced it (and lived to tell the tale).  

3. How common are blizzards in Georgia?  

Thankfully, blizzards in Georgia are rare. There was never – and has never since been – a blizzard in GA that had the ferocity of the 1993 disaster, and it’s unlikely that it’ll repeat itself often, if at all. Winter in Georgia tends to be mild, with an average of just two to three inches of snow on the snowiest of days. Georgia typically only sees two snowy days per year, though sometimes, there can be slightly more in the northernmost parts of the state.  

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