Atlanta - Hottest Decades

Ranked here are the hottest decades on record for Atlanta, Georgia. The lists include decades when Atlanta had the highest average temperatures, the most hot days and the fewest cold days. These extremes are for temperatures observed at Atlanta's Hartsfield—Jackson International Airport and cover nine decades, from the 1930s to the 2010s.

That is when Atlanta had weather measurements that are consistent and complete enough to compare decades. Each decade comprises a standard 10-year range. For instance, the 1990s includes measurements from Jan 1, 1990 to Dec 31, 1999. Links to the data behind these lists are in the References section on this page.

Hottest High Temperatures

Average daily maximum temperature at Atlanta
High °F Decade High °C
Highest 73.7 2010s 23.2
Runner-up 72.7 1990s 22.6

Warmest Low Temperatures

Average daily minimum temperature at Atlanta
Low °F Decade Low °C
Highest 54.8 2010s 12.7
Runner-up 53.6 1990s 12.0

Most Warm Days

Total days per year on average when Atlanta had temperatures of at least 70 °F (21 °C)
Days Decade
Highest 229 2010s
Runner-up 221 1990s

Most Hot Days

Total days per year on average when Atlanta had temperatures of at least 90 °F (32 °C)
Days Decade
Highest 61 2010s
Runner-up 54 1930s

Fewest Freezing Days

Total days per year on average when Atlanta had temperatures of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower
Days Decade
Lowest 33 2010s, 1990s
Runner-up 39 1950s, 1930s

How Much Hotter are 2010s?

Compared with averages for the previous 50 years (1960 to 2009), the 2010s in Atlanta had:

  • 25 more days each year with temperatures of 90 °F and higher
  • 2.2 °F higher daily maximum temperatures (1.2 °C)
  • 2.8 °F higher daily minimum temperatures (1.6 °C)
  • 14 fewer days a year with freezing temperatures
References

Current Results. 2020. Atlanta GA Temperature Averages by Decade

Jay Lawrimore, Ron Ray, Scott Applequist, Bryant Korzeniewski, Matthew Menne. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

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