KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Members from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center, National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Chief, Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination, All Hurricanes pose for a group photo Nov. 13, 2019 on the flightline at Keesler, Air Force Base, Miss.(U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Ken Graham, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, and Col. Jeffrey A. Van Dootingh, 403rd Wing commander, pose for photo in front of a WP-3D Orion at Keesler Air Force Base Nov. 13, 2019. The aircraft is used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Aircraft Operations Center Hurricane Hunters to fly into hurricanes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Aircraft Operations Center WP-3D Orion aircraft prepares to park on the flightline, as a 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron WC-130J Super Hercules flies in the background at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., Nov. 13, 2019. Both teams of Hurricane Hunters met to share information and review the 2019 hurricane season. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristen Pittman) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The radar positioning of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron’s WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft on its way into Hurricane Dorian, Aug. 31, 2019 over the Atlantic Ocean. The Hurricane Hunters use radar, GPS, and various other instruments to track and find the center, aka “eye,” of a storm or hurricane. Although satellite imagery is an effective tool for tracking weather, it cannot collect data from within the storm environment, such as the Reserve Citizen Airmen of the 53rd WRS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Carranza) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters fly in the eye of Hurricane Dorian, Aug. 31, 2019. The WC-130J aircraft flew through the eye of the hurricane four times to gather weather data to determine the intensity and path. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Diana Cossaboom) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman First Class Julia Von Fecht, Training and Research in Oceanic and Atmospheric Processes in Tropical Cyclones Program team member, prepares a Navy Airborne Expendable Bathythermographs for deployment from a WC-130J Super Hercules during a Hurricane Hunter mission into Hurricane Dorian Aug. 31, 2019 over the Atlantic Ocean. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, an Air Force Reserve unit located at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi., gathered weather information during the mission into Hurricane Dorian. The data they gather is used by the National Hurricane Center for their forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Inside the eye of Hurricane Dorian during a Hurricane Hunters mission Sep. 2, 2019. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, an Air Force Reserve unit located at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi., gathered weather information from inside Dorian. The data they gather is used by the National Hurricane Center for their forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by U.S. Navy Midshipman First Class Julia Von Fecht) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, aka Hurricane Hunters, taxis its way to its parking spot after completing its mission into Hurricane Dorian, Sep. 5, 2019 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The Hurricane Hunters, have flown 25 missions in support of Dorian. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Carranza) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

1st Lt. Ryan Smithies, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, flies a WC-130J Super Hercules in the eye of Hurricane Dorian Sep. 4, 2019 off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. During his mission Dorian was a category 2 hurricane and intensified into a category 3. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Ryan Smithies) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Air Force Reserve Maj. Nicole Mitchell, aerial reconnaissance weather officer, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, looks out her observation window while flying into Hurricane Irma Sep. 8, 2017. The Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" fly WC-130J Super Hercules though the eye of active hurricanes to collect weather data using aircraft and externally dropped sensors to provide accurate weather data to the National Hurricane Center on approaching hurricanes. The Reserve Citizen Airmen provide 100 percent of the Air Force capability in low-level, real time data collection in Atlantic and Pacific Ocean tropical weather systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Kyle Brasier) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Air Force Reserve Maj. Nicole Mitchell, aerial reconnaissance weather officer, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, records weather information while flying into Hurricane Irma, Sep. 8, 2017. The Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" fly WC-130J Super Hercules though the eye of active hurricanes to collect weather data using aircraft and externally dropped sensors to provide accurate weather data to the National Hurricane Center on approaching hurricanes. The Reserve Citizen Airmen provide 100 percent of the Air Force capability in low-level, real time data collection in Atlantic and Pacific Ocean tropical weather systems. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Corban Lundborg) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A WC-130J Super Hercules from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, aka Hurricane Hunters, taxis to the runway Aug. 25, 2019 at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The Hurricane Hunters staged their aircraft in Curacao and began flying into Tropical Storm Dorian Monday night. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jessica L. Kendziorek) Share