Latest news with #HurricaneHunters
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Remembering Hurricane Katrina through the eyes of Hurricane Hunter
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Lt. Col. Sean Cross, Chief of Safety for the 403rd Wing of the Hurricane Hunters is one of the few pilots who has been inside Hurricane Katrina. Keesler Airforce Base in Biloxi, Mississippi is the headquarters for the Hurricane Hunters but Cross was born and raised in South Louisiana. He remembers Hurricane Katrina intimately, saying 'Katrina is like this huge measurement in time. When you take off out of here and fly a storm that is going to make landfall where you live, it does something to you. You don't know if you are going to come home to anything being left. I was like, y'all don't understand what is coming this way in the next 36 hours. This is going to be devastating and it's going to change the coast forever… and it did!' Impact of coastal erosion through Isle de Jean Charles Resettlement Project Hurricane Katrina was devasting, and it's effects continue to today. It changed the way we all respond to disasters across the country and how we premeditate natural disasters. 'I flew Katrina and we landed early that morning and went to the house. We had been up all night long and woke up around three that afternoon. I saw a boat in a second-floor bedroom sitting there. I saw a car buried in the front yard because the ground was so soft. The entire hood was down in the mud. We saw a piano in a tree that had been moved around because of the storm surge. There were sheets and blankets everywhere. The worst was when we saw an ambulance loading up the deceased,' Cross said The Hurricane Hunters fly hundreds of mission each storm season. They gather information to track the center of the storm, where each slight shift in the eye of the storm, changes the cone of uncertainty for miles. With each slight shift, the lives of millions on the ground are effected. One of the things that Cross says keeps him safe, is a Ziploc bag full of religious mementos from his grandmother. He has had that bag since his early days of military training. 'I'm closing in on the end of my career. I'm finishing up my 36th year right now. What has kept me involved in this all the time, is the strong desire to help people, fly the mission and be part of the Air Force. The only way to pinpoint the lowest center of pressure inside a hurricane is to put a manned aircraft in it. Right in the belly of the beast,' explained Halloween's annual kick-off event killed by 'supply chain issues' Friday afternoon into evening sees Severe Weather potential Advocates, shelters demand ouster of immigration director in Tijuana Glaciers in Mexico melting away, extinction feared White House puts out list of 500 'sanctuary jurisdictions' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Inside the Storm: Hurricane Hunters save lives from the sky
LAKELAND, Fla. (WFLA) – When a hurricane threatens the coast, most people board up, pack up, and head inland, but for a small but mighty team based in Lakeland, evacuation isn't part of the plan because their job is to fly directly into the eye of the storm. They are NOAA's Hurricane Hunters, a brave crew of pilots, scientists, engineers, and flight directors who risk their lives to gather the data that helps meteorologists predict where hurricanes will go and how powerful they'll be when they arrive. Surviving the Storm: A look back at 2024's wild hurricane season 'We just hit a pocket of lightning, and the whole interior of the aircraft lit up,' said NOAA pilot Andrew Reves, describing one of many intense flights. 'You can hear the radios pop.' Flying into a hurricane takes an entire crew. It is tightly coordinated and scientifically essential. Each flight delivers real-time data to the National Hurricane Center in Miami — data that satellites alone can't provide. 'A lot of times, people ask if we're scared when we do this,' said Captain Nate Kahn, Commanding Officer at NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center. 'Absolutely. But in the moment, you're so focused, so trained, you're not afraid.' Using two 50-year-old WP-3D Orion turboprop planes nicknamed Kermit and Miss Piggy, the Hurricane Hunters slice through intense rain bands. Despite their age, the aircraft haven't had major structural upgrades — they're designed to ride the storm, not fight it. 'We allow the storm to push us up and push us down,' Kahn explained. 'If we tried to maintain a set altitude, the storm would break the airplane.' These planes often experience rapid vertical drops — sometimes 1,500 feet or more — in mere seconds, making each flight feel more like a rollercoaster than a routine operation. But it's what's inside that makes the difference: an array of sensors and instruments that collect detailed measurements of wind speed, barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity. 'It's sort of like taking a CAT scan of the storm,' said aerospace engineer Nick Underwood. 'All that data gets pushed together to give us a clear picture of how the storm is developing.' One of the most critical tools is the dropsonde — a small device launched at specific points throughout the storm that transmits data as it falls. When combined with radar and other instruments, these tools provide the 3D model forecasters rely on. 'We're constantly communicating with the ground and making sure we're collecting the data that matters,' flight director Jon Zawislak said. 'That all goes into the models.' While new technology is beginning to play a role — like autonomous drones that can fly within 100 feet of the ocean's surface — it's still the Hurricane Hunters who provide the highest-quality, in-storm data. 'We're using uncrewed systems to collect data we couldn't get any other way,' said Capt. Bill Mowitt, Director of NOAA's Uncrewed Operations Center. 'It's already showing us ways we can improve our models.' For many of these scientists, the mission is personal. Some call Florida home — meaning they often fly into storms threatening their own neighborhoods. 'We were the crew on the final mission before Hurricane Milton made landfall,' Zawislak said. 'We could see the effects on Tampa Bay and St. Pete. We were flying right over it.' And as hurricane season approaches, these men and women have one message for the people on the ground: 'Be prepared. That's what makes all of this worth it.' From the heart of the storm to our local forecast, the data collected by the Hurricane Hunters is crucial for keeping communities safe. WFLA's 'Surviving the Storm' Hurricane special is airing on May 31 at 7 p.m. You can watch it at 7 p.m. on air on WFLA News Channel 8 or through the Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
New NOAA Hurricane Season Outlook Issued: More Active Than Average Season Expected
Confidence is growing that a more active than average Atlantic hurricane season is about to begin in just over a week. NOAA is now forecasting a 6-in-10 chance of an above-average hurricane season. By The Numbers: NOAA expects 13 to 19 storms to form in 2025, six to 10 of which will become hurricanes and three to five of which will reach Category 3 status or stronger, according to the outlook released Thursday. These ranges are on the high side of the 30-year average for both hurricanes and storms. The range for the number of hurricanes is slightly shy of 2024's total of 11. NOAA's outlook is consistent, but on the low side of other outlooks issued recently by The Weather Company and by Colorado State University's tropical forecast team. This outlook was delivered from Gretna, Louisiana, to acknowledge the 20-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina coming up in August. Ken Graham, the director of the National Weather Service, also acknowledged that there have been tremendous improvements in forecasts since Katrina. The five-day track forecast is now as accurate as the three-day outlook when Katrina was in the Gulf in 2005. Since Katrina, improvements in technology and forecasting have led to a cost avoidance of at least $60 billion, according to a study out of the University of Miami, and cited by Graham. NOAA intends to improve rapid intensification forecasts by 5-7% this season using one of its key hurricane models. This is important to gain an estimate of damage for landfalling hurricanes. Every Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the continental US was a tropical storm or less three days prior, according to Graham. (MORE: For even more granular weather data tracking in your area, view your 15-minute details forecast in our Premium Pro experience.) Graham noted there are still challenges ahead of us. There remains a strong focus on the number of hurricanes rather than the impacts from them. He noted that the fatalities from rip currents have outnumbered the deaths from storm surge in recent years. Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year highlighted that impacts can vary well away from the cone of uncertainty and well inland after the storm is no longer a hurricane. To combat these challenges, NOAA will produce a rip current forecast for the entire Atlantic and Gulf coasts this season. They're also going to include wind alerts on their forecast cone of uncertainty operationally this season. A new high-definition satellite will also watch over the Atlantic Basin this hurricane season. NOAA, in partnership with the University of Miami, will also be deploying new aircraft drones and underwater gliders to fill data gaps, advance our knowledge of hurricanes and improve forecast accuracy. NOAA's Hurricane Hunters will also be equipped with a new radar that will collect information on winds and ocean waves from their P3 aircraft. NOAA will also be upgrading its atmospheric/ocean buoy array with better instruments and better placement to monitor the El Niño - Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Factors Dictating How This Season Will Go: Unlike past seasons, this season has offsetting signals for the amount of activity we'll see. Hedging toward more active, warmer-than-average water temperatures is expected and wind shear is likely to be weaker. Climate scientists are expecting us to hang onto ENSO-neutral conditions through the peak of hurricane season in September, but La Niña is more likely as we head into the cooler months and the end of hurricane season. La Niña conditions typically allow more storms to sustain themselves, while its counterpart, El Niño, increases wind shear over the Caribbean and knocks down the activity there. Prepare every season: Regardless of what seasonal outlooks say, you should be prepared for every hurricane season. Even quieter hurricane seasons can include one destructive hurricane landfall, or for that matter, an inland remnant with flooding rain and high winds. For those affected, that would not be a "quiet" season. If you're along the East or Gulf coasts, the time to develop your hurricane safety plan is now, not when a storm is just days away. Information about hurricane preparedness can be found here. MORE FROM - The Hurricane Wind Scale: What It Means, And What It Doesn't - Pacific Hurricane Season Has Already Begun - Tropical Refresh: Terms You Should Know This Season Jonathan Belles has been a digital meteorologist for for 9 years and also assists in the production of videos for The Weather Channel en español. His favorite weather is tropical weather, but also enjoys covering high-impact weather and news stories and winter storms. He's a two-time graduate of Florida State University and a proud graduate of St. Petersburg College.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Air Force Hurricane Hunters say they're ready for busy hurricane season
The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the "Hurricane Hunters," is officially ready to roll out for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The 403rd Wing maintenance and support personnel based at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, spent the last week prepositioning aircraft parts, tools and communication systems at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, in preparation for the season. "Our area of operation spans from just west of Hawaii to the middle of the Atlantic," said Lt. Col. Jeff Mitchell, 53rd WRS mission commander for the deployment. "Staging at St. Croix puts us closer to where Atlantic hurricanes tend to form, giving us the head start we need when every hour counts." Tropical wave: First tropical wave of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season just left the African coast The Hurricane Hunters are the only Department of Defense unit that flies into tropical storms and hurricanes, but they're not the only hurricane hunters around. Here's what to know about hurricane hunters and the important role they play during hurricane season. Hurricane hunters are pilots and researchers who fly into tropical storms and hurricanes to collect crucial data that forecasters use to make accurate predictions, help researchers better understand storm processes and improve forecast models. "Satellites are useful, but they can't measure the minimum sea level pressure inside a hurricane, or the structure and wind data we gather by flying directly into the eye," said Mitchell. "That data helps the National Hurricane Center make more accurate forecasts—forecasts that save lives and property." It probably seems crazy, but yes, hurricane hunters really do fly into storms. Using different planes, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hurricane hunters cut through hurricanes to reach the storm's eyewall, which is relatively calm. Flying through a hurricane sounds exciting and dangerous, but there's a lot of downtime during the 8- to 10-hour flight. Colorado State University grad student Angelie Nieves Jiménez, who flew with the NOAA hurricane hunters in 2023, described the experience as thrilling, memorable and bumpy. "The bumpiness of the flight depends on the storm's strength and the reconnaissance mission path," she said. "Seat belts must be worn at all times when approaching the storm, because there can be updrafts and downdrafts that feel like a roller coaster." 53rd WRS chief aerial reconnaissance weather officer Lt. Col. Ryan Rickert focuses on the mission. "People often ask us what it's like to fly into a hurricane," said Rickert. "It's intense—but we know that every pass through the storm means better data for the National Hurricane Center forecasters and better warning for people in harm's way." Hurricane hunters will typically fly through the eyewall of the hurricane multiple times, dropping weather instruments called dropsondes to measure temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and barometric pressure from the aircraft to the ocean surface. All of this data is transmitted to the National Hurricane Center in real-time, which is then plugged into computer models to try and predict the storm's track and intensity. The data is important as it helps government officials and emergency managers to make decisions about evacuations and other storm preparations. 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron currently has 10 WC-130J "Super Hercules" aircraft, very similar to the Blue Angels' "Fat Albert" maintenance aircraft. This version of the Hercules is outfitted with palletized meteorological data-gathering instruments. NOAA's hurricane hunters fly two Lockheed JP-3D Orion four-engine turboprop aircraft into storms. The aircraft are nicknamed "Kermit" (N42RF) and "Miss Piggy" (N43RF). NOAA pilots also fly the Gulfstream IV-SP (G-IV) above and around storms. This plane has a cruising altitude of 45,000 feet and a range of 4,000 nautical miles, making it perfect to get a detailed view of weather systems in the upper atmosphere around a hurricane. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Air Force Hurricane Hunters are ready for 2025 hurricane season
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
See planes, equipment Hurricane Hunters use when they fly into some of world's worst storms
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways LAKELAND, Fla. – Hurricane season is on the horizon, and NOAA's Hurricane Hunters are ready to fly into any storms to keep Americans safe. FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell spoke with Capt. Nate Kahn, commanding officer of the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center, about the Hurricane Hunters and what it's like to fly into a hurricane. "Flying into the storms is an exercise in, I'd call it, nine hours of mild discomfort interspersed with two to three minutes of sheer and utter terror," Kahn said to Campbell. Capt. Nate Kahn. He noted how, sometimes, conditions are such that the pilots are unable to see where they are going. Pilots also have to safely navigate the storms, even when conditions cause the aircraft to fly sideways. "When you're in 200 mph winds, it takes a significant angle to keep the plane moving in the right direction, which is part of the magic," he said. Something A Bit Unusual Is Happening In The Tropics Despite these conditions, Hurricane Hunters persevere for the sake of gathering life-saving information. Kahn said that NOAA's two P-3 Orion aircraft – affectionately called "Kermit" and "Miss Piggy" – have aboard a team of about eight researchers that collect and process data about the storms. This data is then sent to NOAA's National Hurricane Center, where the data is used by meteorologists to form forecasts for people who might be affected by the storms that Hurricane Hunters are studying. While meteorologists at the NHC are developing forecasts, Hurricane Hunters have a meteorologist as part of their team. This individual helps the team stay safe during the flight. How To Watch Fox Weather Hurricane season for the Eastern Pacific Ocean begins May 15, and the season for the Atlantic Ocean begins on June 1. Original article source: See planes, equipment Hurricane Hunters use when they fly into some of world's worst storms
