KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- In the last week the Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters have flown into and collected data on four hurricanes out of four locations.
Hurricanes Madeline and Lester were headed toward the coast of Hawaii last week and Hurricane Hermine hit the coast of Florida then swept up the East Coast where it downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone near the southern edge of New England. Meanwhile, Hurricane Newton is currently over Baja, Mexico near the Gulf of California.
Because the Hurricane Hunter’s area of responsibility stretches from near the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean to 52.5 west longitude in the Atlantic Ocean, they have three primary locations -- Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss., Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii and the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. To investigate the four most recent hurricanes, the Hurricane Hunters flew out of Lihue Airport in Kauai, Hawaii, which they use as an alternate location in Hawaii, and Keesler as well as two new locations -- Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in Niagara Falls, New York and Yuma Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona.
“It’s unusual for us to fly out of so many locations, but it’s been a busy week for us here,” Capt. Lucas Caulder, 53rd WRS pilot said.
Using these as forward operating locations saves resources and gives the 53rd WRS shorter flight times and opportunities to rest and refuel between missions.
Lester and Madeline have moved away from the Hawaiian Islands and according to the National Hurricane Center’s current forecast, Newton is currently over land, preventing any further investigation. However, the 53rd WRS will continue to investigate Hermine until it ceases to pose a threat to the United States and will resume investigation of Newton should it return over water.
To keep up with the Hurricane Hunters mission, check out the plan of the day, follow missions on Google Earth or visit the National Hurricane Center. For more Hurricane Hunters and 403rd Wing updates follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.