Basics of Winter Weather
Winter storms bring the threat of freezing rain, ice, and snow. Even small amounts of snow and ice can cause severe problems for Georgia.. Winter storms are most likely to occur January through March with the highest risk in February. The farther north in the state and the higher the elevation, the more likely it will be cold enough for frozen or freezing precipitation to fall and cause problems. Therefore, central and north Georgia have the highest risk concerning damages associated with severe winter storms.
A heavy accumulation of ice, which is often accompanied by high winds, devastates trees and transmission lines. Sidewalks, streets, and highways become extremely hazardous to pedestrians and motorists. Over 85% of ice storm deaths are traffic related. Recent freezing rain and ice storms have resulted in disaster declarations in Georgia in 1976, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1993, and 2000. The 1993 storm has been described as the storm of the century. In the early morning hours of March 13, 1993, a series of meteorological events caused high winds, heavy rains, tornadoes, heavy snow, and blizzard conditions throughout the state of Georgia. Snowfall amounts in excess of 3 feet were reported in several counties. As a result of the incident, a total of 93 counties were declared eligible for Federal assistance to cover expenses associated with debris removal and emergency protective measures. Georgia citizens should heed winter weather watches and warnings to reduce injures, deaths, and damages.