Hurricane Hunters fly winters collection data for weather service

Published Jan. 6, 2010
By Senior Airman Kimberly Drickson
403rd Wing/Public Affairs

KEESLER AFB, Ms. -- On Dec. 18, the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters took up the task asked by the National Weather Service to fly their first winter storm of the season on the East Coast.

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" assigned to Keesler's 403rd Wing are perhaps best known for their primary mission: to collect weather data during tropical storms, enabling forecasters to make more accurate predictions.

Between hurricane seasons, the Hurricane Hunters have a lesser known, but equally important role: collecting weather data during winter storms.

"Whenever there's a system track that will cause an impact, there's potential for winter storms," said Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer since 1992.

To prepare for a winter storm flying mission, the Hurricane Hunters carefully plan the mission, review which flying route they will take and make altitude reservations by coordinating with air traffic control, said Lt. Col. Roy Deatherage, 53rd WRS ARWO.

"The National Weather Service runs computer models that forecast the weather three to five days in advance of a storm," said Colonel Talbot. As an ARWO, he acts as a mission director and liaison between the NWS and his crew. "Winter storms have a lot of impact," he said, detailing the emergency services and salt trucks used.

The Hurricane Hunters have two winter storm missions, Colonel Talbot said. The first is the Pacific mission. "We average 20 missions over 30 days when we deploy our airplanes to either Alaska or Hawaii," he said. The second is flying winter storms locally in the Gulf of Mexico and in the Atlantic Ocean.

"The goal is to improve the weather forecast for the East Coast because we have a lot of people and money tied up in the Washington to Boston corridor," Colonel Talbot said.

The return of investment for flying winter storms and collecting data is an estimated 15 percent greater accuracy in weather forecasting. "There are some 5,000 salt trucks in New York City alone," said Colonel Talbot. The increase in forecasting accuracy directly impacts emergency management capabilities by reducing the unnecessary dispatch of expensive resources.

"If you collect the right information at the right place--over the Pacific Ocean--you can make a big impact to the forecast four to five days later," Colonel Talbot said, with the idea that flying winter storms before they happen can make the forecast better for the entire area.

Colder weather at high altitudes presents a unique challenge to the Hurricane Hunters since the crew must remain cognizant of icing, said Maj. Kevin Fryar, 53rd WRS ARWO. The Hurricane Hunters fly WC-130Js at high altitudes, typically 5-10,000 feet above their normal range, and drop small weather canisters, or dropsondes, designed to collect weather data in key locations of high weather activity. Weather information collected from the dropsondes is then transmitted to the NWS and is ultimately used by forecasters to assess weather patterns enabling them to forecast more accurately.

In a storm, data is transmitted to the National Weather Agency and is later passed on to the Air Force Weather Network, said Colonel Talbot.

"When you fly a hurricane mission, you know you're making a difference," said Colonel Talbot. "With this mission, we know there are people waiting for the information we give to make the best possible forecast. It's essentially the same thing (as a hurricane mission)."

To Colonel Talbot, a 24-year veteran of the weather field, the experience is as rewarding as it is beneficial. "What other meteorologists get to fly? You get the best of both worlds." he said. The information he collects can mean the difference between spending hundreds of thousands in preparing for the weather rather than millions of dollars reacting to it.

Hurricane Hunters fly winters collecting data for weather service