It’s been a winter of dramatic weather this year in the ATL… from a high on Christmas Day that nearly set an all-time record in the 70s to freezing temperatures bringing snow flurries in November, and possibly again this week. And there’s no doubt about it, with lows dipping into the 20s, it’s COLD outside. But if you can believe it, it’s actually been colder in the ATL before. Much, much colder. How much colder? Keep scrolling to find out.
What is the record for coldest temperature in the ATL?
By using historical records by the NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), we know that the lowest temperature ever recorded in Atlanta was an unbelievably cold -8 °F.
For reference, the low for the North Pole today (January 20th, 2026) is 5 degrees. Atlanta was THIRTEEN degrees colder than that!
(Of course, that’s not as cold as the North Pole ever gets, with temperatures plummeting much lower during cold spells.)
When was the record coldest temperature set in Atlanta?
Whoa. -8°F? When was this!?
This record was set on January 21st, 1985. That’s 41 years ago, right here in Atlanta.
There ~is~ arguable data that suggests there might be some discrepancies with this record, however. A report by Atlanta Patch states that the National Weather Service places the coldest day on record in Atlanta on February 13th, 1899, at -9 °F.
Of course, we’re not looking at record setting cold this year in Atlanta. But that doesn’t mean that it won’t be dangerously cold some days. If you need access to a warming center, make sure to check out the City of Atlanta’s press releases, to see where the most up-to-date warming centers are in the city.