How is the weather in Michigian, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia in December?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

This coming December for the 1st time my family and I are choosing to drive down to WDW along Interstate 75, because we like it a lot better then flying. Anyway we have always driven down during the summer so we are ok with the route and we already made our hotel reservations along the way, so we know exactly where we are going to stop. Anyway I was wondering what is the weather like in Michigian, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia during that month? Obviously we will plan to pack some warm weather clothes for when we stop off and etc, but assuming there are no major snow storms is the drive basically normal?

 

[grimley1968]

Being a southern Kentucky resident, I will relate what I know about Ky. & Tn.:

In December, Ky. and Tenn. can get quite cold, especially in the latter part of the month. Sub zero cold sometimes. However, it's more likely to be 40's for highs and maybe 20's for lows, give or take about 10 degrees.

In our neck of the woods in wintertime, it usually seems to be somewhat warm (40's or 50's) and rainy, or colder (10's, 20's and 30's) and not a cloud in the sky. Significant snowstorms don't "usually" occur until January, though you might get some icestorms in the evenings. Having said that, I have seen a handful of 6" or greater snowfalls in the month of December here.

In my experience the Ohio River is often the dividing line between major winter weather versus just heavy cold rain in Kentucky. But that dividing line is an average, and can move up or down a great deal.

Good news is I-75 is 3 lanes each direction throughout almost all of Kentucky now, except for a few miles in the southernmost portion of the state, and Knoxville's seemingly incessant work on I-75 seems to have finally wrapped up. It's a much nicer road than it used to be. If snowplows are needed, there is at least a chance to plow one or two good lanes on any portion of I-75 in Kentucky now.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thank you for that reply which does help.

 

[minniebeth]

Ohio weather can be hit or miss in December. It literally changes with the wind! We've had some mild Decembers and some bad ones too (snow and ice). You should be ok on the major highways though which they do a great job at keeping clear. Have a great trip!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for your reply minniebeth.

 

[2busy4life]

We to are driving for the first time (actually first vacation in 21 years ) in December down I75. We have planned to stop in Knoxville TN on the way down and then Lexington Kentucky on the way back.

Our mechanic suggested that we put on our snow tires like usual and keep them on even when in Florida. Glad to have this post here so we can plan accordingly.

Counting the days!!!

 

[marius97]

Since you are going down so early in Dec, I wouldn't anticipate anything too crazy in MI. Since you're in Toronto, I'll assume that you'll head to Detroit and pick up 75 there. That shouldn't be a problem at all. If you crossed at Port Huron, being further north of course would increase your risks of snow a bit. Rarely does Detroit have any significant snow by then. I'd say in my 20 years that I grew up in Detroit, there were only a handful of times that we had more than a few inches of snow on the ground for christmas.

 

[Brian Noble]

I'm not sure about all of those locations, but here's how I'd find out.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since you are going down so early in Dec, I wouldn't anticipate anything too crazy in MI. Since you're in Toronto, I'll assume that you'll head to Detroit and pick up 75 there. That shouldn't be a problem at all. If you crossed at Port Huron, being further north of course would increase your risks of snow a bit. Rarely does Detroit have any significant snow by then. I'd say in my 20 years that I grew up in Detroit, there were only a handful of times that we had more than a few inches of snow on the ground for christmas.

Yes that is correct, we would be going along I-75 starting in Detroit.

 

[2busy4life]

Since you are going down so early in Dec, I wouldn't anticipate anything too crazy in MI. Since you're in Toronto, I'll assume that you'll head to Detroit and pick up 75 there. That shouldn't be a problem at all. If you crossed at Port Huron, being further north of course would increase your risks of snow a bit. Rarely does Detroit have any significant snow by then. I'd say in my 20 years that I grew up in Detroit, there were only a handful of times that we had more than a few inches of snow on the ground for christmas.

We were going to cross at Port Huron because sometimes the 401 between London and Windsor has really bad weather we might rethink this now.