You knew the weather felt wrong the moment you walked out side Wednesday November 16th. Too warm, too humid. Something had to give; it was almost Thanksgiving after all.

Sure enough several tornado warnings were issued that day, sirens sounded and the public reported funnel clouds. Fortunately no tornado touchdowns occurred.
 
The fall, in particular the month of November, is Atlanta's second severe weather season after the spring months, in fact F-4 tornadoes tore up the NW Suburbs in 1992, hitting the new subdivision near I-75 and Wade-Green Road where I was building my first home. However, severe storms are more typical than tornadoes in the autumn.
 
The weather often turns more stable in the months of September and October; in fact October is the driest month of the year. The scattered storms of summer tend to end in September as we lose the fuel for storms: heat, humidity and the jet stream. But November is a transition month. In November the jet stream returns and so does the humidity, so when a strong cold front or low pressure moves across the southern states the atmosphere is primed again.
 
Then as we get into December and the rest of the winter, the jet stream is still near but the colder temperatures and drier air of the cool season cut off the instability needed for severe weather, so ice or snow are more likely or just cold rainy days.
 
Severe weather can occur in winter, as was witnessed with numerous tornado warnings on January 2nd, 2006. Many residents watched the Fiesta Bowl in short-sleeves weather and were irritated at the frequent game interruptions by TV weather people issuing warnings.
 
It is worth noting that Metro Atlanta has now experienced three consecutive winters with 3 inch+ snowfalls, you have to go back to 1892 to 1895 to find the same thing!
 
It's also interesting that despite last year being remembered as a harsh winter, once past Feb 12 it was over and done! In fact last winter turned warmer than normal in February and March as I forecast, and Atlanta recorded its EARLIEST last freeze since 1945! Hardly a long winter, but it was bad for a good stretch.
 
Those who like mild weather even in winter should be careful what they wish for; anytime we are unseasonably warm during the fall or winter it increases the chance that when a cold front arrives it will spark severe weather.
 
If we turn cool and stay chilly through February we won't have to fear a repeat.

It looks like the weather pattern we have been in for October and thus far in November will continue into at least early December: Cold snaps come and go as we stay on the temperature roller coaster ride.