The last of the snowpack is finally melting here in Metro Atlanta, which is a testament to how much fell across the region Friday morning!
Below is the final snowfall round up across the Atlanta:
Additional snowfall totals through the North Georgia Mountains are available here through the National Weather Service.
But it wasn’t just snow that fell on Friday -- the snow showers transferred to sleet and freezing rain through the course of the day, leading to an icy mix.
Below is the final freezing rain/ice accumulation across Metro Atlanta:
Additional ice totals through the North Georgia Mountains are available here through the National Weather Service.
How Does This Snowstorm Compare to Previous January Storms?
Last week’s snowfall is more than double the average snowfall for the month of January, as measured at the Atlanta Airport.
So far, we are experiencing the 14th’s snowiest January on record for Metro Atlanta (as measured at Hartsfield Jackson Airport -- it’s the climatological reporting station, extending back to 1930.
“SnowJam 1982″ produced the third highest snow in the Atlanta area, with 7.0 inches of snowfall during that event.
More recently, the January 2011 snowstorm blanketed the Metro region with 4.4 inches of snow, followed by freezing rain that kept the snow encapsulated on the ground for nearly a week.
“Snowmaggedon 2014″ produced a mere 2.6 inches of snow, however it melted and refroze on the interstates, stranding thousands on the roadways.
One of the hallmark snowstorms in the Atlanta area is the Blizzard of 1993. The Blizzard of 1993 occurred in March, and 4.2 inches fell at the Atlanta Airport. Compared to January, the Blizzard of 1993 would tie for 7th.
Is More on the Way?!
It is too soon to know if more sleet, snow, and freezing rain is on the way, but models are starting to come into consensus that there may be another Gulf Low that develops during the timeframe of Tuesday through Thursday, January 22-24.
However, there is high confidence that an Arctic Outbreak will return to Metro Atlanta the week of January 20-25, potentially bringing morning temperatures back down to the upper 10s to low 20s, and limiting daytime temperatures to the freezing mark.
Overall, keep the warm winter gear handy, and I will keep you updated on any potential winter weather impacts that develop next week.