Geography
Georgia is one of the largest states east of the Mississippi River and there are many geographic features that help determine its climate.
Georgia stretches from 30°N to 35°N, which is spans about 298 miles between its southern and northern borders.
The eastern portion of the state borders the Atlantic Ocean for 100 miles and within the state, there are major rivers, such as the Chattahoochee, Flint, Savannah and Suwannee Rivers.
Elevation changes across the state range from sea level along the east coast to a peak height of 4,784 feet at Brasstown Bald in northern Georgia, in the southern extent of the Appalachian Mountains. These changes greatly influence the local climate of an area.
The westerly prevailing winds are found between 30°N and 60°N, and these prevailing winds help steer large scale weather systems and have a large impact on the weather and climate of Georgia. Winds are primarily out of the southwest during the summer and from the northwest during the winter.