Now that we’re entering the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, meteorologists are reminding Georgians that tropical storms can be just as dangerous inland as they are along the coast.
NOAA forecasters predict an above-average 2025 hurricane season, raising the stakes for communities across the Southeast. David Nadler, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Peachtree City, said in a recent interview with GPB News that Georgia residents should prepare now, no matter how far they live from the shore.
The NWS office in Peachtree City covers 96 of Georgia’s 159 counties, all of them inland.
Lessons from Hurricane Helene
Nadler pointed to Hurricane Helene, which struck last year, as a reminder that inland areas can face severe impacts. The storm maintained its strength after landfall in Florida, racing into Georgia with damaging winds, heavy rain, and tornadoes.
“Helene was very unique in the sense of how powerful it was, but also how fast it was moving,” he said. “It came up and it made landfall near the Panhandle of Florida, but it was so intense and it was moving so quickly that it was able to maintain significant strength even while inland.”
Helene, as most in the Southeast will remember, caused heavy wind damage and severe flooding. The storm spawned tornadoes affecting Eastern Georgia and South Carolina.
How forecasts are made—and shared
To track storms, meteorologists rely on a combination of satellite imagery, radar, and real-time data collected by Hurricane Hunter aircraft. That information flows from the National Hurricane Center in Miami to local offices like Peachtree City’s, which tailor forecasts to state and county needs.
Nadler stressed the importance of staying connected to reliable alerts.
He urges Georgians to “make sure you’re tied in” to sources for frequent weather updates, including local media, local weather apps, county emergency notifications, and the NWS website.
Staffing and readiness
Despite recent federal staffing cuts, Nadler said the Weather Service remains fully capable of meeting the demands of hurricane season. Nearly 10% of the workforce is currently being rehired, and local offices continue to staff up during severe weather events.
“We have people that were used to working around the clock and staggering shifts and stuff like that to meet the needs. So yeah, we just keep doing that and there’s been no issues here at all,” he said.
Preparing before storms strike
Nadler’s bottom line for hurricane preparedness: don’t wait until a storm is on the radar to make a plan. Secure emergency supplies, review evacuation routes, and sign up for local alerts now.
Georgia may not have a coastline in every county but, as Nadler pointed out, the risks of hurricanes don’t stop at the shore. He and other meteorologists and emergency management officials stress that staying informed and preparing early make all the difference.
For more hurricane safety tips and resources, visit weather.gov/peachtreecity, the National Hurricane Center and Ready.gov.
