As Atlanta moves intoChristmas week, the city is likely to experienceone of the warmestChristmas Days on record inGeorgia.
Temperatures could soar into the 70s, forecasts show, making much of the southeast feel like spring has sprung.
Atlanta may not be known for it's wintery weather, but when was the last time this city's residents got to celebrate a true "White Christmas"?
December 25, 2010
Just before Christmas Day 15 years ago, a strong storm system forceda low pressure systemto move across the Gulf Coast, according to records from the National Weather Service.
It started to rain on Christmas Eve, but as the temperature dropped in north Georgia, the rain slowly turned to snow.
By Christmas morning some parts of the mountains had inches of snow, eventually hitting a high of 8 inches recorded that day.
The Atlanta metro area varied between 1 and 3 inches of snow accumulation, continuing into Dec. 26 as cold temperatures caused the roads to freeze overnight.
The storm eventually moved up the East Coast, and the snow melted in Georgia.
First snow in more than a century
The 2010 snowstorm was the first measurable Christmas snow in Atlanta since 1881, marking the end of 129 years of dry Christmas Days.
The National Weather Service considers it a "White Christmas" when there is at least1 inch of snowon the ground on Christmas morning.
With temperatures trending warmer this winter, Atlantans will have to wait at least one more year for snow on Christmas.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today's Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:When is the last time there was snow in Atlanta on Christmas Day?
