Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, aka Hurricane Hunters, taxis its way to its parking spot after completing its mission into Hurricane Dorian, Sep. 5, 2019 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The Hurricane Hunters, have flown 25 missions in support of Dorian. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Carranza)WC-130J Super Hercules
                        
                        
                        A WC-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Hurricane Hunters, taxis to a parking spot after completing its mission into Hurricane Dorian, Sept. 5, 2019, at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Carranza)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Hurricane Hunters fly winter stormPublished March 3, 2020
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Christopher Carranza
                    
                    
                    403rd Wing Public Affairs
            **KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFNS) --**The United States Air Force Reserve 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the Hurricane Hunters, flew their first winter storm of the season, Feb. 26.
A WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft departed Keesler Air Force Base midday to fly the western Atlantic flight track, off the Northeast coast.
“This is the first winter storm tasking of the season for us and it was a 10-hour mission,” said Maj. Kendall Dunn, 53rd WRS pilot. “During these missions, we try to fly as high as possible at about 30,000 feet which is a lot higher than what we fly into hurricanes.”
The Hurricane Hunters normally operate at 10,000 feet, sometimes less, through major tropical systems, storms and hurricanes to collect weather data. These storms generally occur during the hurricane season which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 every year.
The winter-storm season is Nov. 1 to March 31. The unit has been busy throughout this season supporting the West coast with atmospheric river data collection as well.
Despite being named the Hurricane Hunters, there is no offseason for the 20-crew, 10-aircraft squadron. The mission of the 53rd WRS is to remain on call for a tasking to collect data from storms.
The Hurricane Hunters fly their weather-equipped WC-130J aircraft to release dropsondes throughout the flight, said Maj. Douglas Gautrau, 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer.
Gautrau said these dropsondes collect information such as wind speed and direction, pressure and dew point, then transmit that data back to the aerial reconnaissance dropsonde operator aboard the plane who reviews the information to ensure the device operated properly, and then sends the data to the weather officer.
Instead of sending the collected data to the National Hurricane Center, information gathered during a winter storm is sent from the aircraft to the National Centers for Environmental Prediction which, like the NHC, is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
NCEP uses the data like the NHC does during hurricane season, as a supplement to data already collected from other means to predict, to better inform and prepare those in the path of the storm.
“Being able to support weather forecasters get a better idea of when and how much precipitation is going to fall is important so they can better prepare their area’s infrastructure,” Gautrau said. “This preparation helps position snow removal vehicles and power trucks to better locations to ensure efficient response times.”
The 2019-2020 winter-storm season has been busy with seven Pacific and one Atlantic mission thus far for the season.
“Winter storms are an integral part of what we do,” Dunn said. “Providing vital information to the citizens of the nation is the ultimate goal, so they can be prepared for the weather.”LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



hurricane hunters 



AFRC 



Air Force Reserve Command 



WC-130J 



Super Hercules 



Keesler AFB 



Western Atlantic Flight Track 



NHC 



National Hurricane Center 



National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 



readiness 



weather 



Winter Storm 



National Centers for Environmental Prediction Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil