North Georgia Weather Forecast (Feb. 16, 2024 - Early March)

How does widespread 60s tomorrow sound? Low-level southwesterly flow ahead of an incoming cold front this weekend will bring pleasant, spring-like weather to North Georgia on Friday. Even parts of the mountains may make a run at 60.

A potent shortwave will drop into the Upper Midwest and High Plains on Friday, which will begin to carve out a short-lived trough over the eastern U.S. A second wave over the Rockies will trek out ahead of the primary shortwave, moving quickly within the zonal flow that'll still manage to bring accumulating snowfall to parts of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic Friday through early Saturday.

What will N. Georgia get out of this, you may ask. A cold front with some light rainfall Friday overnight into early Saturday. Boring!! Amounts should be light, and some may not even get rain. Temperatures will drop like a rock during the day Saturday behind the front. With the moderately strong winds, make sure you break out the long sleeves.

Following the frontal passage, there will be 2-3 nights of freezing temperatures. Nothing extreme, just 20s/30s, but still a tad below average. However, temperatures will progressively get warmer through at least Thursday. Widespread 60s and mostly pleasant weather will be the norm.

Then, it'll be mostly lather, rinse, repeat. I expect another shortwave to trek from the West, this time from the Four Corners, eventually passing through the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic late week. And just like this weekend, a shortwave will drop into the Upper Midwest and carve out another trough. N. Georgia will get a little pre-frontal rain before the cold front passes through and drops temperature below average for 2-3 days. And then the cycle will probably continue into early March, with each warm-up bringing well above average temperatures.

Here's the summary. The snow drought will continue. That's not to say that the mountains may not luck out in March but for the rest of the area, it's looking increasingly likely that it'll be "better luck next winter." What's worse is that parts of North Georgia, especially eastern and southern parts of the forecast area, have received 150-200% of their average precipitation this winter. All liquid, no snow. Not even sleet.

We'll have more discussions as a group as to why N. Georgia has experienced this snow drought, as I continue to investigate and do research on my end. As I do research, I will relay that info to all of you.

Have a great and safe weekend!

Matthew Holliday