Yes, metro Atlanta has a second severe weather season in late fall. Georgia’s emergency management agency, citing National Weather Service climatology, notes a secondary peak in severe weather, including tornadoes, during November and early December. Strong fall storms bring damaging wind, falling trees and heavy rain, so it pays to prepare now and check your home after each one.
Most people in Buckhead associate tornado weather with spring, and they are right that March through May is the busiest stretch. But late fall cold fronts can bring the same ingredients back together. UGA Extension climatologists describe a second peak in Southeast severe weather in late fall, and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has held a Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Day in November to remind residents.
For homeowners in Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody and the rest of north Atlanta, the biggest risks from these storms are wind, trees and water. This guide covers why November storms happen, what they do to a house, and a simple checklist to run before and after the next one.
Why does severe weather come back in November?
Severe storms need warm, moist air near the ground, cooler air above it and strong winds that change with height. In summer, Georgia has plenty of warm, humid air but often lacks strong upper-level winds. In late fall, the jet stream drops south again, and strong cold fronts sweep across the Southeast.
When one of those fronts runs into lingering warm, humid air from the Gulf, storms can organize quickly. Many of these fall systems arrive as long lines of storms with damaging straight-line wind, sometimes with brief tornadoes embedded in the line. They often come through at night, when people are asleep and less likely to hear warnings.
Has metro Atlanta really seen November tornadoes?
It has. On November 30, 2016, the National Weather Service confirmed six tornadoes in north Georgia. One was an EF-1 with winds near 90 mph that touched down in North Atlanta, snapping large pines and dropping one onto a home. Another, an EF-0 with winds near 80 mph, crossed from North Fulton into South Forsyth, uprooting pines along Windward Parkway and snapping trees along McGinnis Ferry Road.
Six years earlier, on November 30, 2010, an EF-2 tornado with winds near 130 mph touched down in Buford in Gwinnett County.
The NWS report on the 2016 storms noted that tree damage was the main visible damage from the North Fulton tornado. That lines up with what we see after most fall storms around Buckhead: the wind itself does some damage, but trees falling on roofs cause the most expensive repairs.
Why are trees such a big part of storm damage in Atlanta?
Atlanta is known as the City in a Forest for good reason. A 2023 canopy study by Georgia Tech for the City of Atlanta measured tree cover at about 45.5 percent of the city. Buckhead’s wooded lots and tall pines are part of what makes the neighborhood beautiful, and they are also a real storm risk.
Fall adds another factor. After a dry stretch, roots can be stressed. After a wet one, soaked soil loosens its grip on the root ball. Tall pines and older hardwoods with dead limbs are the first to fail in strong gusts. A single large limb can puncture a roof, break a window or crush a deck, and the rain that follows pours straight in.
What kind of damage do fall storms do to homes?
After a strong November storm, these are the problems we see most often in north Atlanta homes:
- Tree and limb impacts. Holes in roofs, crushed gutters, broken windows and damaged siding, often with rain pouring in afterward.
- Wind-lifted shingles and flashing. Straight-line winds peel back shingles along roof edges and ridges, opening a path for water.
- Water intrusion. Heavy rain finds every opening. NWS records put Atlanta’s normal November rainfall at about 4 inches, and a single strong system can drop a large share of that in one night.
- Basement and crawlspace water. Hillside lots send runoff toward foundations, and clogged gutters full of fall leaves overflow right where you do not want them.
- Power outages. Downed lines can knock out sump pumps and HVAC, which slows drying in a humid house.
Fall storm checklist for Buckhead homeowners
Use this checklist before and after the next severe weather day. Each item takes only a few minutes.
Before the storm:
- Clean gutters and downspouts. Fall leaves clog them fast, and blocked gutters send water into walls and basements.
- Look up. Note large limbs that hang over your roof, driveway or bedrooms, and have an arborist check any that look dead or cracked.
- Secure patio furniture, grills and planters that can become projectiles in high wind.
- Test your sump pump if you have one, and know how to reset it after an outage.
- Set up a way to get warnings overnight, such as a weather radio or phone alerts with sound turned on.
- Find your main water shut-off and electrical panel so you can reach them quickly.
After the storm:
- Stay away from downed power lines and any tree touching a line.
- Walk the outside of the house and look for missing shingles, damaged siding and limbs on the roof.
- Check ceilings, especially on the top floor, for new stains or drips.
- Look in the basement or crawlspace for standing water or damp insulation.
- Take photos and video of all damage before cleanup. Document everything for your insurance company.
- Cover openings if you can do it safely from the ground, or call a professional to tarp and board up.
Does a storm affect older and newer homes differently?
It can. Older homes in established parts of Buckhead and Brookhaven often have mature trees close to the house, older roofs and crawlspaces that collect runoff. Newer homes and townhomes usually have tighter roofs but larger roof surfaces, more complex rooflines and finished basements where water can hide behind drywall.
Either way, the first step after a storm is the same: look for openings that let water in, and check the lowest level of the house for water that came in from outside.
Do high-rises and condos in Buckhead face different storm risks?
They do. Tall buildings along Peachtree Road and Lenox Road are not likely to have a tree come through the roof, but they have their own weak points. Wind-driven rain can push water through window seals and balcony doors on upper floors. Roof drains and mechanical rooms can back up in heavy rain, sending water down through units below.
If you live in a condo, report any leak to building management right away so they can check units above and below you. Water in a high-rise often travels several floors before anyone notices it.
What should you do if storm water gets inside?
Start with safety. Turn off power to wet rooms at the breaker if you can do it without standing in water. Then stop any new water from entering, move belongings to a dry space and start removing standing water with towels or a wet vac.
In Atlanta’s humidity, wet materials do not dry well on their own. Run your air conditioning if power is on, and keep windows closed on muggy days. Drywall, insulation and carpet pad that got soaked usually need professional drying with commercial dehumidifiers and air movers, along with moisture readings to confirm everything is truly dry.
How Best Option Restoration helps after fall storms
Our crews start by protecting the home with tarps and board-up so the next round of rain does not make things worse. Then we map moisture with meters and thermal imaging, remove what cannot be saved, dry the structure and rebuild. We provide photo and moisture documentation along the way so you have a clear record.
November storms can arrive fast and in the middle of the night. If one has put a tree on your roof or water in your home, contact Best Option Restoration of Buckhead and we will help you secure your property and get it back to normal.