2004 started warm and dry for much of the month of January…in fact Macon set a new record high on the 5th when it reached 81 degrees – 4 degrees warmer than the previous high for that date. Rainfall was as much as 2 inches below normal, except across a narrow portion of central Georgia (including Macon) which ended up just below normal precipitation. Temperatures in Atlanta and Macon averaged about a degree warmer than normal, While Columbus and Athens were slightly colder than normal. Portions of eastern Georgia were impacted by an ice storm January 25th through 27th, which resulted in significant tree damage.

The weather changed in February to a colder and wetter than normal pattern. Portions of north and central Georgia were affected by a winter storm February 26th. Temperatures across north and central Georgia were up to 5 degrees below normal in some places. Precipitation was below normal across north Georgia while central Georgia received close to normal.

March through the middle of June was marked by warmer and much drier than normal weather across Georgia. 90-degree temperatures arrived in Macon by late April (on the 24th) and in Athens and Columbus by early May (on the 7th). While Atlanta flirted with 90 on several occasions in May it did not officially record 90 degrees until mid June (11th). Rainfall totals were the third driest March in Atlanta and Macon, second driest in Athens and the driest ever in Columbus. For the period of March through May, Athens was the driest ever, Columbus third driest, Atlanta 4th driest, and Macon 7th driest. Athens even had the driest March through June period since records were kept.

July saw temperatures near normal with a continued below normal rainfall for the month. August rainfall returned to normal with temperatures slightly colder than normal. During September, much of north and central Georgia had their hands full as the remnants of 2 hurricanes and a tropical storm moved across the area. The remnants of Tropical Storm Frances pushed out into southwest Georgia September 6th and plodded north into the Atlanta Metropolitan area late September 7th. Bands of moderate to heavy rain resulted in several inches of rain. The remnants of Hurricane Ivan pushed northward through Alabama on September 16th and reached the northwest corner of Georgia before daybreak on the 17th. Bands of moderate to heavy rain swirled broadly across the state - especially the north. Rainfall totals generally in the 3 to 8 inch range fell roughly along and north of a line from Columbus to Athens. (Some areas reported higher totals.) Both storms had winds of 30 to 40 mph, with gusts near 50 mph which whipped trees, broke limbs and knocked down power lines over a wide area. Even more damaging were the tornadoes associated with Ivan's spiral bands. The remnants of Hurricane Jeanne pushed into the heart of Georgia on September 27th. Jeanne was still at tropical storm strength when she passed east of Albany, but soon weakened to a depression. Bands of moderate to heavy rain swirled across the state - especially along the Interstate 75 corridor from the Florida border north to the Atlanta Metropolitan area. Except in the northwest corner of Georgia, rainfall totals were generally in the 2 to 8 inch range. Winds of 20 to 35 mph were common, but there were gusts of 40 to 50 mph that wreaked havoc as well. In the end, September was the wettest month ever for the state of Georgia. Atlanta had its 2nd wettest September since it began keeping records…Athens, Macon and Columbus all had the wettest September on record. Temperatures during September were slightly colder than normal at most places.

October saw a return to warmer and drier than normal weather. November was wetter than normal and December is on track to be wetter than normal in Atlanta with drier weather across the rest of the state (Macon will be 4th driest ever).