Severe weather is often associated with the hurricane season or spring tornadoes that spin up in Dixie Alley but there is another dangerous time for weather in Georgia.
Even though severe thunderstorms occur year-round, they often have a second peak in Fall and Winter across Georgia.
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Wednesday is Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Day in Georgia, a time to help people get ready for the next few months which can bring harsh weather.
Schools across Georgia used this preparedness day to take part in a severe weather exercise/tornado drill.
Our Routine Weekly Weather Radio test will be moved to 9:30AM in our Georgia counties for Georgia Severe Weather Preparedness Day. GA typically sees a secondary peak in severe weather in late Fall, so make sure you're prepared. You can start by taking part in the drill! #gawx pic.twitter.com/0eJM3JmGU3
— NWS Columbia (@NWSColumbia) November 3, 2021
Part of being prepared includes knowing what’s ahead with the weather and using apps or weather radios to keep alert of severe weather messages.
Take a little time today to review your severe weather plans, restock your Ready Kit, and refresh your knowledge on severe weather safety!
“As hurricane season ends, we encourage our residents to continue to prepare for other types of severe weather,” said Chris Stallings, director of the Georgia Emergency Administration. “We usually see heavy thunderstorms and tornadoes during this season, so now is the perfect time for Georgians to educate themselves and their loved ones on how to stay safe in case of emergencies.”
In the past, November brought strong coastal storms that resulted in coastal erosion and heavy rain along the coastal lowlands.
Climatology from the National Weather Service shows that parts of Georgia see a secondary peak in severe weather, including tornadoes, during the months of November and early December.
Tornadoes are a threat year-round, but winter months historically bring stronger twisters.
An example in 2017 included two back-to-back January days.
Three tornadoes briefly touched down in Tattnall and Screven County, Georgia, followed the next morning by another round of thunderstorms through southeast Georgia.
One of these thunderstorms produced a brief EF-1 tornado at Fort Stewart in northern Liberty County. Other thunderstorms produced a wind gust to 64 mph at Fort Stewart and knocked down a couple of trees in Chatham County.