Located in the foothills of the southern Appalachians in the north-central part of the state, Atlanta has a mild climate that rotates through all four seasons. The city's elevation and relative closeness to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean moderate the summer heat; mountains to the north retard the southward movement of polar air masses, thereby providing mild winters. Most precipitation falls in the form of rain, with the heaviest concentration in March. Snowfall is negligible, the yearly average being one-and-one-half inches, though a snowstorm of about four inches occurs about every five years. Tornado activity is also fairly frequent in the area.
Area: 132 square miles (2000)
Elevation: 1,010 feet above sea level
Average Temperatures: January, 40.5° F; July, 79.1° F; annual average, 64.2° F
Average Annual Precipitation: 50.77 inches