KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew its first operational mission into a tropical system for the 2025 hurricane season June 18, providing critical data to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center.
Flying aboard a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft, the Hurricane Hunters departed Keesler Air Force Base and headed into Hurricane Erick, located in the Pacific. The mission marked the beginning of what is projected to be an active storm season.
The squadron, part of the 403rd Wing, is the only Department of Defense unit tasked with flying into storms to gather real-time atmospheric data. Their mission is to improve the accuracy of storm forecasts, track development, and help communities better prepare for landfall.
“Our job is to fly directly into the storm and collect vital information such as wind speeds, pressure, temperature, and humidity,” said 1st Lt. Mark McCoy, 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer. “While satellites provide a significant amount of information, the data we gather within the storm is unique and unable to be captured by satellites. The data is then sent to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center to improve their analysis and forecast of the tropical cyclone, ultimately ensuring public awareness of the impacts to expect at the surface.”
During each flight, the crew deploys dropsondes, which are devices that collect vertical profiles of the atmosphere as they fall, and then relay that data back to the National Hurricane Center in real-time.
“Every time we fly into a storm, we’re collecting data that can directly impact how communities prepare and respond,” said Tech. Sgt. Larry Banks, 53rd WRS loadmaster. “But we train all year for this. What we do helps save lives and property.”
The 53rd WRS operates a fleet of 10 WC-130Js and is prepared to support up to 24-hour operations during the height of hurricane season. Missions are coordinated through the National Hurricane Operations Plan, and the data collected is also shared with the U.S. Navy, NOAA, and other forecasting agencies.
As storm activity begins to ramp up, the Hurricane Hunters stand ready to provide the data that ensures communities across the Gulf and Atlantic coasts can stay informed and safe.
For updates on tropical activity visit NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center webpage at https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?epac.