This paper studies the propagation properties of Gauss鈥擝essel beams in a turbulent atmosphere. Based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle, it derives the intensity distribution expression for such beams propagating in a turbulent atmosphere. Then the influence of turbulence and source beam parameters on the beam propagation is studied in great detail. It finds that the intensity distribution of Gauss-Bessel beams will change into Gaussian profile in a turbulent atmosphere, and that stronger turbulence and smaller topological charges will lead to a faster changing.