Whether or not you’re a fan of roasted chestnuts, Jack Frost will certainly be nipping at your nose this Christmas.
Channel 2 Action News meteorologist Brian Monahan said a polar plunge of cold air will hit North Georgia on Thursday, bringing the possibility of snow and freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve and the “coldest Christmas afternoon high in more than 30 years” on Friday.
According to the latest forecast, the low that day will be 24 degrees and the high will be 35. The last time temps were in the 30s on Christmas was 1989, when temperatures fell to 33 degrees, Channel 2 reported.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Christmas Eve will be wet, with a 100% chance of rain and storms, according to the news station. Monahan said flurries and snow showers are likely to mix in as temperatures crash later in the afternoon.
It is less likely Atlanta will get a true white Christmas, he said, but those looking to the weather to boost their holiday spirit will not be disappointed.
“I don’t think we’re going to see a repeat of what we saw back on Christmas Day in 2010,” Monahan said. “Hard to believe that was 10 years ago, when we got 1.3 inches of snow out at the airport.”
According to Monahan, 1 to 2 inches of snow could fall in northeast Georgia late Thursday evening into Christmas morning. Metro Atlanta is likely only to see a few flurries, he said.
To be considered a white Christmas, the city would have to record more than an inch of snowfall.
A white Christmas is rare in Atlanta, there has only been one officially.
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) December 20, 2020
A white Christmas is defined as at least one inch of snow accumulation. That's unlikely this year, but if we get any I'll be willing the bend the rules and call this an unofficial white Christmas. pic.twitter.com/wYKrIMQhJq
The remainder of the holiday should be relatively dry, with just a 20% chance of precipitation early in the day. The afternoon will be partly cloudy, according to the latest forecast.
