Every summer and autumn headlines cover at least one major hurricane approaching the coast. You’re probably not planning to do any pattern work in a hurricane, but it’s quite common for instrument pilots to skirt the edges of these storms. A few airline and corporate pilots go right over the top. Hurricanes and tropical storms are a big topic at FBOs and in the flight deck when August and September arrives, and if you have a plane tied down in the path, you’re well aware how stressful that can be. So let us regale you with some facts, trivia, and essential information from the perspective of a veteran aviation forecaster.
We’ll specifically discuss hurricanes and issues relevant to the United States. But for those of you overseas, keep reading anyway. Whether you’re in Australia, Japan, or Bangladesh, a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone are all exactly the same thing. The underlying physics is identical, so there’s plenty to learn here. The only differences boil down to the interactions with land masses and ocean currents, and of course the reversed direction of rotation south of the Equator.
