Hurricane Hunters Tracking New Storms on Katrina Anniversary

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James B. Pritchett
  • 403rd Wing
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Hurricane Hunters from the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing spent the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina flying into yet another tempest, Tropical Storm Gustav, which could once again threaten their home at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. 

Three years ago, the Hurricane Hunters evacuated aircraft and personnel from the base to forward operating locations where they continued flying into Katrina to provide the National Hurricane Center with critical data used by forecasters to make warnings to areas in the path of the storm. 

Crews watched from 10,000 feet as the pounding surf and pulverizing winds destroyed the Mississippi Gulf Coast, their homes, businesses and those of their friends and family. In the days following Katrina, the Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron continued flying missions directed by the NHC, never missing a single tasking. 

Already under the gun this month, the 403rd Wing deployed its fleet of WC-130J and C-130J-30 aircraft to foreword operating locations last week when Tropical Storm Fay threatened heavy winds across the Gulf Coast. Aircraft remained in place as follow-on taskings called for them to fly missions into what is now Hurricane Gustav and another recently developing system Tropical Storm Hannah. 

Anytime a tropical system threatens the U.S. coastline or those of our interests in the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean basin, the Hurricane Hunters fly around-the-clock missions. Tasked by the National Hurricane Center, the Hurricane Hunters have flown several missions into Gustav already; pinpointing the location of the center of the storm and providing real-time data to forecasters via satellite communication. Information relayed to the NHC helps forecasters to narrow warning areas by more than 30 percent. With increased accuracy in the forecast, the likelihood that people in those areas will heed watches and warnings also improves. 

This year, all 10 state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft are equipped with the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer which allows Reservists on board to constantly measure surface winds directly below the aircraft. The SFMR, affectionately known as the "Smurf," can also determine rainfall rates within a storm system. This, in addition to wind speeds at flight level provides structural detail of the storm. 

Already this season, the Smurf has given forecasters significantly more data to feed into their models and provided more accurate surface-level wind data not always available in the past. 

The Smurf can also determine rainfall rates within a storm system. This, in addition to wind speeds at flight level provides structural detail of the storm. 

Having the Smurf on board is the most important advancement for this season, according to Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, chief Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officer for the Hurricane Hunters. With the full capability to provide surface wind speed data the unit gives NHC forecasters the most accurate surface wind speed information prior to landfall.

"This translates into more accurate warnings for the public," he said.

Data collected by the Hurricane Hunters using the Smurf is expected to allow NHC experts to more accurately forecast the path and intensity of storms in order to save lives and narrow areas of evacuation. 

In addition to the 53rd WRS, the 403rd Wing is also headquarters for the 815th Airlift Squadron, which flew essential supplies and equipment into their home base after Katrina. The unit is currently operating from Texas and is prepared to repeat humanitarian airlifts if called on. Support and maintenance teams also deployed with the aircraft as they did in 2005. People and aircraft were displaced for more than three months after Katrina until Nov. 2 when the airfield at Keesler was again ready to support the mission of the Wing. 

Reservists assigned to the 403rd Wing come from 37 different states to support the missions of the unit; most however live within an hour of the base. More than a third of the Citizen Airmen reported serious damage to their homes after Katrina and more than half had significant damage. 

"The 403rd Wing is made up of Reservists and civilian employees, most of whom live in and are a part of this community. Despite the fact many of our people lost everything to Hurricane Katrina, they all returned to work quickly and pitched in to support their neighbors on the Gulf Coast and throughout the Atlantic basin by providing vital data to the National Hurricane Center," Brig. Gen. Richard Moss, commander, 403rd Wing, said in an interview after Katrina.