Up in places like Iowa and the Dakotas, Sun Belt residents take a fair amount of ribbing about half an inch of snow closing the schools and malls and snarling traffic for miles. Sort of payback for all of the “why the (beep) would anyone live in places like Iowa and the Dakotas?” jokes made after every Yankee blizzard.
Just to let you know, you can expect some snow in parts of the Peach State this winter. That’s why you need to make sure your auto insurance and homeowners coverage are in prime condition to cover it if you need to file claims.
You should also know a few Georgia snow safety tips to get prepared.
The Charm of the Peach State’s Chillier Months
When and where does it snow in Georgia?
The most snow you’ll see in our state is in the mountains, where we might get as much as 18 inches all season. Compare that to an annual average of 70 inches in the snow belt of Minnesota. It’s not a “once in a blue moon” situation here, but not enough snowfall to grow accustomed to living with it. In Atlanta, you might be hit (if you can call it that) by a season’s total of about 2.9 flaky inches.
The least amount of snowfall — not surprisingly — is farther south. The snowiest months are December through February.
Here’s what to do when it snows in Georgia.
Crafting a Memorable Winter Adventure in Georgia
If cozying up in front of a warm fire in a remote cabin is your idea of fun, the winter months in and around this state have you covered. Likewise, if hiking when it’s hot and humid is not your cup of tea, exploring the many hidden trail gems in colder months may be more pleasant. From early December through early spring, many small (and large) towns and cities dress up and hold a variety of great bazaars and markets.
Indoor Escapades Among the Cold
After the long Georgia summers with daytime temperatures in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, it can be easy to forget it can get cold here. Not Minnesota cold, naturally, but our blood is a bit thinner.
You might hit daytime temperatures in the 50s or low 60s, and some nights may reach the freezing point or a few degrees colder. After a Georgian summer and fall, that’s cold. Cold enough in some places for the snow to fly.
When it does, stay in — sometimes, the best Georgia snow activities take place indoors. Get the family together and play board games. Or go for a romantic dinner for two at a restaurant with a fireplace and with embers glowing. Just remember, in this state, it’s likely that the snow will melt by mid-afternoon the next day, and you might be wearing shorts again. Our cold spells don’t last long.
Embracing the Great Outdoors: Snow-Filled Activities
On a balmy late fall day with temperatures in the mid-seventies, it can be hard to remember to inventory your collection of boots, gloves, and stocking caps. But you just might need them.
If you have thick-soled hiking boots, get out in the snow. In most places here, it will only be a few flakes, but a nature hike through even that modest amount can be invigorating.
Find a nearby hill and take the kids sledding or tobogganing. Or pile into the car and take a drive through your very temporary winter wonderland of a city or town. Take photos and post them on your social media accounts.
The point is that Georgia snow days are so relatively rare that you’ll want to enjoy every minute of them. Get out there and sled, skate, slip, slide, and find adventure.
Best Places to Visit Georgia in the Snow
Time for one of those popular Georgia winter road trips. Where does it snow in Georgia the most? That would be atop Brasstown Bald, the highest mountain in the state. Here, you could see as much as 40 inches of total snowfall in a typical year. If you want to show the kids what those living in the northern regions of the nation go through, take them here, in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the northwest part of the Peach State.
Plan far enough ahead, and you can rent cozy cabins in the Blue Ridge Mountains during the winter months. Or hang out in Mountain City, generally acclaimed as the snowiest community in North Georgia.
If you’re into snow skiing, you can get to various ski resorts within a short driving distance of Atlanta in North Carolina and Tennessee.
Cultural and Festive Events Unique to Georgia’s Winter Months
You wouldn’t think this light-snow state would feature much in the way of traditional winter festivities, but you’d be wrong.
In and near Atlanta, you and the family might take advantage of Winter Wonderland at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Or enjoy the annual Groundhog Day Juggler’s Festival at the Yaarab Shrine Center in late January and early February of next year. You can also celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival in February.
Savannah, at the opposite end of the state, has always known how to throw a party, even when the calendar turns cold. You can partake in Savannah Holly Days, featuring Cookies With Santa, the Jingle Bell Block Hop Party, caroling, and other family-friendly activities. Then, there’s the European-style outdoor Savannah Christmas Market at the Plant Riverside District. Here, you’ll enjoy seasonal food, live performances, activities for the family, decorations, and street vendors.
Holiday lighting displays dot the state this time of the year. Some favorites include Enchanted Garden of Lights, located in Rock City Gardens on Lookout Mountain, Winter WonderLights at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, and Fantasy Lights at Callaway Resort & Gardens on Pine Mountain.
Prioritizing Safety in Wintry Conditions
Iowans are used to feeling the temperature drop and driving on icy roads in blizzard conditions. You — not so much. With as little snow and wintry weather to be found here, you can forget Georgia snow safety until the need literally hits you.
Here are a few Georgia snow safety tips for the road and home when winter looks a little more like what our Northern friends get than usual.
Essential Car Safety for Icy Roads
The first safe driving tip for Georgia winters is to make sure your vehicle is ready for the season. Make sure tires have sufficient treads for slippery conditions, and your brakes are in good working order.
Follow weather reports so you don’t get caught by surprise on icy roads. And maintain at least 14 seconds of distance between your car and the one ahead of you at highway speeds. This is about twice the spacing you’d normally keep on dry roads.
But even beyond safe driving and a roadworthy vehicle, ask yourself if you actually have to go out at all when the winter weather is challenging. Can you work from home or take a vacation day? Maybe keep the kids out of school? Sure, your Northern friends will mock you for overreacting to icy conditions, but ignore them and stay safe.
Preparing Your Home for a Winter with Possible Snowfall
Make sure you have a shovel or snowblower. This is an obvious winter preparation step throughout most of the country but easily forgotten in Georgia. It’s better to have a shovel that serves no purpose during a mostly dry season than not having the tool when you do need it.
Prepare your home for a winter storm, too. That means having your furnace inspected in the fall and keeping track of weather reports. If there’s even a rumor of a winter storm coming your way, stock up with supermarket dry food staples, fully charge the phones while you still have electricity, and make sure you have flashlights and batteries or candles and matches.
Have home activities for the kids that don’t necessarily involve power or Internet access. And remember again, even harsh Georgia winter storms don’t last long.
Snow Removal Tips for When You’re Not Used to the Stuff
Shoveling is a workout. You’ll realize that as you start the activity in your heavy winter coat, hat, and gloves and end up shoveling with no coat and your shirt sleeves rolled up.
Is your body ready for that fairly intense workout? Proceed slowly, and use your legs more than your more fragile back for lifting. This can be especially important if it’s a wet, heavy load rather than a few dry flakes that can be better swept away with a broom.
If you don’t regularly get this type of exercise, use a snowblower or hire the neighborhood kid with a stronger back and a younger heart.
Make Sure Your Auto and Home Policies Are Prepared for Snow as Well
When does it snow in Georgia? When you least expect it. That’s why you must be constantly prepared with these Georgia snow safety tips and an adequate insurance policy.
The cheapest form of auto insurance is liability. That protects the finances of other motorists and property owners when you’re responsible for an accident. But it won’t cover your own vehicle or injuries if icy roads lead to your at-fault collision.
The solution is to carry full coverage. While it costs a little more, your independent auto insurance agent can shop for the most affordable policy from the multiple brand-name lines they represent.
Also, make sure you have good liability coverage with your homeowners insurance policy. This will help financially protect you from lawsuits if someone falls on your icy sidewalk before you’ve had a chance to de-ice it.
If you’re not sure what your policy does and doesn’t cover, let your homeowners insurance agent review it before winter sets in.