It's Impossible To Forget The Year Atlanta, Georgia Saw Its Single Largest Snowfall Ever
By Marisa Roman|Published December 29, 2019
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Marisa Roman
Author
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
There are some storms that have rocked the core of Georgia. Storms that change the way Georgians perceive weather. You’ll probably remember some doozies, from Snowmageddon to Snowjam 1982 and beyond. But there is a storm that passed through Georgia on January 23, 1940, that really left a mark on the history of the state. It might not have fancy name recognition like the others, but this blizzard was one that really went into the history books.
In winter of 1940, Atlanta had one of the worst blizzards to ever hit the state, and in fact, was one of the largest storms in the 50-year span of the local weather bureau.
While other Georgia storms dropped 2 to 4 inches of snow respectively on Atlanta, this 1940 blizzard dropped a whopping 10.3 inches of snow.
Not only did this record-breaking snowfall end up ruining transportation for days, but it also closed down schools, took down power lines, and left Georgians curious as to how the heck they would get out of their homes.
Making the front page of various newspapers, including the Atlanta Constitution, this was the city’s worst snowstorm that caused waves of trouble for days to come.
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If it wasn’t enough that the snow was some of the deepest the city had ever seen, but the freeze which came afterward made things even more difficult.
This snowfall in Atlanta ended up being the most snow ever recorded on a single day—and actually turned into one of the top 10 snowstorms in the city.
Atlanta residents can likely count on both hands the amount of snowstorms they have been privy to in the past century, but this one remains in the minds of most.
While 10 inches might not seem like much to other states, or even other portions of the state, it still left a mark on the history of Georgia.
Are there any other Georgia snowstorms that stick out in your memory? Share with us in the comments section! Or if you want to learn more about the worst of Georgia’s storms, check out the massive Georgia blizzard of 1993 that will never be forgotten.
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