Atlanta Winter Predictions and Your Gas Bill
For those who are curious what gifts winter may bring Atlanta this year, we have some answers for you. According to the NOAA, there is a 57% chance of a weak La Niña event this winter. This comes with some fairly reliable expectations for our winter weather. In turn, those predictable weather patterns give us a clue what may happen with natural gas rates in Georgia. However, the event this year will likely be a weak one, meaning a lot is still up in the air. So, let’s dig into the details of what winter will be like in Atlanta this year.
What La Niña Means for Winter in Atlanta
A typical La Niña brings warmer and dryer weather to the south but colder and wetter weather to the north of the US. When we have a strong La Niña (or El Niño), weather patterns are more predictable. But this year, the event is likely to be weaker. This means other weather patterns are more likely to throw a wrench into a warm, dry winter in Atlanta.
Right now, the NOAA outlook predicts we have about a 40%-50% chance of a warmer and dryer winter.
What La Niña Means for Natural Gas Rates
A nice warm and dry winter sounds great. But does the warmer weather also mean lower natural gas rates? Lower demand often leads to lower prices. However, with a typical La Niña winter parts of the country trend warmer while other parts trend cooler. These opposites can then zero each other out. Overall, demand will almost certainly be higher for natural gas through winter than in fall, meaning higher natural gas rates could be coming our way.
However, keep in mind that with higher temperatures in Georgia, you will use less natural gas for heating. On average, about 43% of residential energy use is for space heating, according to the EIA. That means making a big cut to your heat demand lowers your natural gas bill.
Shop Atlanta Natural Gas Rates for Winter Savings
Hopefully La Niña predictions hold true and you enjoy a warmer, dryer winter. But it’s possible other weather patterns will come into play. So, take advantage of low natural gas rates right now. Set yourself up for winter savings when you shop natural gas rates at https://www.georgiagassavings.com.