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‘Hurricane Hunters’ Fly Into the Eye of Hurricane Milton

Pilots with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Aircraft Operations Center study the storm as it approaches Florida.

Tuesday, October 08, 2024 at 02:34 PM ET

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses a fleet of hurricane hunters, including this Gulfstream IV-SP nicknamed ‘Gonzo’ to study developing storms. [Courtesy: Nick Underwood/NOAA]

Key Takeaways:

NOAA's "hurricane hunters," supported by the Air Force Reserve, are flying missions into Hurricane Milton to gather critical data for forecasting its structure, intensity, and path, especially vital for vulnerable Florida communities.
The NOAA fleet includes WP-3D Orions for direct storm penetration (measuring intensity and structure) and a Gulfstream IV-SP for studying upper-atmosphere systems (predicting path), both utilizing dropsondes and tail doppler radar.
In addition to crewed aircraft, NOAA deploys uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) from P-3s to collect data in high-risk or difficult-to-reach areas, such as close to the ocean surface, enhancing forecasting capabilities.

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As Hurricane Milton barrels toward the west coast of Florida packing 155 mph winds, pilots are flying into the belly of the beast.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Aircraft Operations Center (AOC) houses a small fleet of “hurricane hunters,” which researchers deploy to predict a hurricane’s structure, intensity, and path. And with Milton forecast to remain a major hurricane when it impacts the Tampa area on Wednesday, the data they gather will be as important as ever.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.