Metro Atlanta will likely see downed trees as Hurricane Irma passes

Metro Atlanta residents are used to seeing downed trees during a typical thunderstorm.

Expect the fallout from Hurricane Irma to be much, much worse.

"Times 10," said Peter Jenkins, presidents of TreeInspection.com. "It's one thing to have straight-line winds that last a minute. This one's going to be sustained winds that are going to be much worse that just a regular thunderstorm."

Jenkins said as much as 5 percent of metro Atlanta's total tree canopy could be decimated in the storm. Most at risk, he said, are oak trees and other hardwoods with decay, cavities or other weaknesses. Pine trees could also come down.

These trees are already weakened, Jenkins said. Add in ground saturation and high winds and there’s a good chance many trees will be uprooted, he said.

"It's going to be pretty catastrophic," he said.

People who have trees that lean over their homes should consider evacuating, Jenkins said, and no one should drive during high winds. They can be hit by falling trees or limbs before they have a chance to react.