KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Capt. Lawrence Monahan and Capt. Zach McDermott, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilots, fly a reconnaissance mission into Hurricane Helene Sept. 26, 2024. Crews flew around the clock from Sept. 23 to 26, 2024 into Hurricane Helene to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. The Hurricane Hunters, or 53rd WRS, are a unit in the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Master Sgt. Cameron Beste, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster and dropsonde operator, reviews vertical weather profile data sent from the dropsonde to the aircraft during a mission into Hurricane Helene Sept. 26, 2024. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flew weather reconnaissance missions around the clock from Sept. 23 to 26, 2024 into Hurricane Helene to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. The Hurricane Hunters, or 53rd WRS, are a unit in the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flew weather reconnaissance missions around the clock from Sept. 23 to 26, 2024 into Hurricane Helene to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. One of the tools they use to collect weather data is a dropsonde, which is released into the storm and collects temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, and barometric pressure data. The aircraft also collects surface wind speed and flight-level data. This information is transmitted to the NHC in Miami to assist them with their storm warnings and hurricane forecast models in the Atlantic, Caribbean and eastern Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Maj. Ian Park, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, does his pre-flight checks prior to a mission into Hurricane Helene Sept. 26, 2024. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters flew weather reconnaissance missions around the clock from Sept. 23 to 26, 2024 into Hurricane Helene to gather vital weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts. The Hurricane Hunters, or 53rd WRS, are a unit in the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands

Members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, flew through the eye of Hurricane Beryl, June 2. Hurricane Beryl reached category five, with sustained winds of 165 mile per hour. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A Charleston, Virginia, reporter interviews Capt. Ryan Smithies, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, during the NOAA Hurricane Awareness Tour, May 9, 2024, at the Charleston Air Force Base International Airport. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircrew and a team of NOAA hurricane experts visited five Atlantic Coast cities as part of the HAT May 6-10, 2024. The tour is a joint effort between NOAA's National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center and the 403rd Wing's 53rd WRS to promote awareness about the destructive forces of hurricanes and how people can prepare. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Lt. Col. Tobi Baker, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, brief South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on how the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters collect weather data for National Hurricane Center forecasts May 9, 2024, during the NOAA Hurricane Awareness Tour at Charleston Air Force Base/International Airport, South Carolina. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircrew and a team of NOAA hurricane experts visited five Atlantic Coast cities as part of the HAT May 6-10, 2024. The tour is a joint effort between NOAA's National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center and the 403rd Wing's 53rd WRS to promote awareness about the destructive forces of hurricanes and how people can prepare. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Member of the public tour an Air Force Reserve WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft at the Portland International Jetport in Maine May 6, 2024. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircrew and a team of NOAA hurricane experts visited five Atlantic Coast cities as part of the Hurricane Awareness Tour May 6-10, 2024. The tour is a joint effort between NOAA's National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center and the 403rd Wing's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to promote awareness about the destructive forces of hurricanes and how people can prepare. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Dr. Michael Brennan, National Hurricane Center director, briefs the press about the importance of being prepared for the upcoming hurricane season at a press conference at the Portland International Jetport in Maine May 6, 2024, during the NOAA Hurricane Awareness Tour. An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircrew and a team of NOAA hurricane experts visited five Atlantic Coast cities as part of the HAT May 6-10, 2024. The tour is a joint effort between NOAA's National Weather Service and NHC, and the 403rd Wing's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron to promote awareness about the destructive forces of hurricanes and how people can prepare. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

More than 10,000 people toured the U.S. Air Force Reserve's WC-130J aircraft during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 20, 2024. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become “weather-ready” during the CHAT April 16-20, 2024. As part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Col. Elissa Granderson, 403rd Operations Group commander and pilot, and Lt. Col. Devon Burton, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, pose for a photo with a youth who dreams of becoming a pilot during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 20, 2024. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become “weather-ready” April 16-20, 2024. The group visited four Caribbean nations and as part of the event, dignitaries, students and the public toured the WC-130J aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Capt. Amaryllis Cotto, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, poses for a group photo during the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, April 20, 2024. NOAA hurricane specialists and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters discussed hurricane preparedness, resilience and how people can become “weather-ready” April 16-20, 2024. The group visited four Caribbean locations where event dignitaries, students and the public toured the WC-130J aircraft to learn how scientists collect hurricane information to improve National Hurricane Center forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lt. Col. Marnee A.C. Losurdo) Share