Lake Lanier tornado.
May is a month of profound transition in the Peach State – a delicate bridge between the erratic thunderstorms that usually occur in April and the oppressive, heavy humidity of summer. May also brings the threat of the “secondary” severe weather season.
According to long-term climate data for the North Atlanta and North Georgia regions, the month begins with average afternoon highs in the 76- to 77-degree range. By the time Memorial Day rolls around, those numbers typically climb to a balmy 84.
I love sitting out on the back deck watching the sunset this time of year. It is usually pleasantly cool. With average lows starting near 55 and ending around 64, May provides the last reliable opportunity for being comfortable outside before our four-month air conditioning marathon begins.
Rainfall remains consistent, with the region typically seeing about 3.3 to 4 inches spread across nine or 10 “wet” days. This year, as you well know, has been anything but typical. We are grappling with a significant hydrological challenge. Recent reports indicate that nearly 98 percent of the state is experiencing some level of drought, with parts of metro Atlanta and the northern foothills classified under “extreme” drought conditions.
While May is usually a month of growth, the lack of soil moisture means the lush green we expect might look a little “dusty” this year unless we see a shift in the North Atlantic oscillation. Lake levels across Georgia are down substantially.
May is also the tail end of the spring severe weather season, where the clash between lingering cold fronts from the north and surging moisture from the Gulf of Mexico can be volatile.
Early May 2003 remains etched in the memories of many residents when a series of powerful storms ripped through North and Central Georgia, part of a record-breaking week of tornadoes across the U.S. In Georgia, several strong tornadoes touched down during that period, causing considerable damage to homes, trees, and power lines. One tornado roared right down the heart of Lake Lanier.
This storm was part of a larger severe weather event that moved through North Georgia, with the most intense damage concentrated around the southern and central parts of the lake.
The impact included snapped trees, destroyed boat docks, and structural damage to several waterfront properties. Recovery efforts in the following weeks were extensive as crews worked to clear debris from both the land and the water.
Last year, on May 2, we had yet another tornado come right down the lake. This was a supercell thunderstorm. There was no thunderstorm warning or tornado warning. It also did some major damage.
It can get cold this time of year as well, although not very likely. May 2020: A significant late-season frost/freeze occurred on Mother’s Day weekend (May 9-10). Temperatures in several North Georgia mountain towns, such as Blairsville and Blue Ridge, dipped into the low 30s, while Atlanta reached the high 30s. This event was particularly damaging to the North Georgia apple crop and early-season backyard tomato plants. It decimated apple crops in Ellijay and stunned backyard tomatoes as far south as Marietta.
All in all however, May is one of my favorite months of the year.
Enjoy!
Photo: courtesy Reddit
