Hurricane Season in North Georgia, Metro Atlanta | Impacts, more

ATLANTA — Atlanta is 230 miles from the Georgia coast and more than 250 miles from 30A on Florida’s Emerald Coast. But if you’ve lived in Atlanta or north Georgia for many years, you know that we are still affected by tropical systems that have been making landfall for many years.

During the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season, the Peach State was hit by the remnants of Sally, Delta, and Zeta. Hurricane Zeta’s impacts were the largest of the three, with widespread power outages lasting several days in many areas of the metro.

Analyzing data since 1950, there have been 32 named storms whose track occurred within a 100-mile radius of Atlanta. But tropical storms and hurricanes are much larger than 100 miles in diameter. So, in North Georgia, it is important to remember to always be prepared for hurricanes every summer and fall.

The impacts of tropical systems that make landfall can extend hundreds of kilometers inland. In northern Georgia and the Atlanta metro area, residents face three main threats from tropical systems making landfall: damaging winds, torrential rains and tornadoes.

Threat of destructive wind

As a hurricane moves inland, it loses the energy available in the warm waters of the ocean or Gulf and gradually weakens. So while Atlanta doesn’t experience sustained hurricane-force winds, the city may experience tropical storm conditions with some systems making landfall.

There have been many storms over the years that downed trees and power lines, such as Opal in 1995. But a much more recent example of this impact of tropical systems is October 2020’s Zeta.

Power outages around the subway were widespread and it took several days for power to be restored. At its peak, more than a million outages were reported in the region.

Heavy rain and threat of flooding

Tropical systems bring with them deep tropical humidity and can produce impressive precipitation rates that last for hours.

In some cases, rain totals could exceed double-digit totals in parts of North Georgia, such as in 1994 during Tropical Storm Alberto. Although not a hurricane, Alberto slowly moved across southern Alabama into western Georgia, then looped westward.

During this multi-day journey, immense amounts of rain were brought to western Georgia. Maximum precipitation exceeded 27 inches in Americus, Georgia. But rainfall totals of half a foot were also seen on the southwest side of metro Atlanta. Many roads and bridges were closed and damaged. Until Michael in 2018, Alberto was the costliest tropical system for the state of Georgia.

The tornado threat from tropical systems in North Georgia typically occurs when storms make landfall along the Gulf of Mexico and track north or northeast somewhere near or just northwest of our region .

Tornadoes typically occur in the outer rainbands of the storm, often in the front-right quadrant, where wind shear and instability are most present. They are usually brief and weak but can still cause damage.

Many past storms have produced numerous tornadoes in the area. In 2021, Fred’s remnants spawned 7 tornadoes in the area.

RELATED: Fred Generates Multiple Tornadoes in North Georgia

Some past storms have produced even more. Katrina in 2005 was responsible for 18 tornadoes across North Georgia.

Usually, tornadoes in tropical systems are weaker, EF-0 or EF-1. During Katrina, 3 of the 18 tornadoes that touched down in Georgia were rated E-F2.

When is hurricane season?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. However, when we look at the frequency of tropical systems, we see a significant spike between August and October, with the “peak” of hurricane season reaching September 10.

What to expect this year?

We are emerging from El Niño and entering a La Niña phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation for the peak of the 2024 season. For this reason, we expect a much more active season than normal.

NOAA will release its hurricane forecasts later this month. Colorado State University released its initial forecast last month, calling for a very active season.

RELATED: Storm Names for the 2024 Hurricane Season | List