News

Dec. 2, 2019
Hurricane Hunters reflect on 2019 Hurricane season

Andrea, Barry, Dorian, Fernand, Humberto, Jerry, Karen, Lorena, Nestor and Olga. At first glance one may think this is a list popular baby names for the year, but they’re the names of nine storms the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew into during this year’s hurricane season. The 2019
Nov. 15, 2019
NOAA, NHC visit 53rd WRS Hurricane Hunters

From the outside looking in, hurricane forecasts seem fairly simplistic. On any given local weather station, they show either a spaghetti model or a more conical shaped model predicting a storm’s path and intensity. There might be a high or low pressure system animated into the graphic as well
Sept. 6, 2019
Hurricane Hunters finish flying Dorian

Over the last two weeks the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, aka Hurricane Hunters, have flown 25 missions in support of Hurricane Dorian.
Aug. 27, 2019
Flying Tropical Storm Dorian

Three WC-103J’s and one C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 403rd Wing departed Keesler Air Force Base Monday for Curaçao to provide weather reconnaissance support for Tropical Storm Dorian.
June 1, 2019
Reserve Citizen Airmen hunt

This specialized unit of Reserve Citizen Airmen is made up of a five-person crew consisting of a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer, and loadmaster who is also the dropsonde operator.
April 29, 2019
Air Force Reserve, NOAA Hurricane Hunters to visit East Coast on preparedness tour

In an effort to build a Weather-Ready Nation ahead of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA hurricane experts will tour five eastern U.S. cities from May 6-10 to raise awareness of the importance of preparing for the upcoming hurricane season.At each stop, the public and media can take a tour
April 15, 2019
International outreach mission builds relationships, promotes hurricane preparedness

Hurricane season starts June 1 and to help communities prepare, the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters and a team of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters visited two Mexican and four Caribbean cities April 8-13, 2019, as part of the annual Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour.
April 2, 2019
U.S. hurricane forecasters embark on preparedness mission to Mexico, Caribbean

With the 2019 hurricane season fast approaching, NOAA and the U.S. Air Force Reserve will host a series of events, including tours aboard the hurricane hunter aircraft, to help communities in Mexico and the Caribbean prepare for the season and the coming storms.National Hurricane Center Director Ken
Jan. 7, 2019
No off season: Hurricane Hunters fly winter storms too

The United States Air Force Reserve 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, more affectionately known as the Hurricane Hunters, is most well-known for doing the unfathomable—flying at 10,000 feet, sometimes less, through major tropical systems, storms and hurricanes to collect useful
Dec. 3, 2018
Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters close out 2018 hurricane season

The 2018 hurricane season ended Nov. 30, and was an active one for the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, who flew more than 655 hours and 83 missions into 12 named storms over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, assigned to the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 403rd