Capt. Chris Dyke, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance weather officer, analyzes data collected in Tropical Storm Nate from a released dropsonde, The storm was located off the west coast of Mexico, Sept. 9, 2011. Based out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., these 403rd Wing Reservists collect data for the National Hurricane Center in Miami, enabling forecasters there to increase forecasting accuracy by 30 percent. Share

Senior Airman Mike Ustianowski, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance loadmaster, delivers a dropsonde into Tropical Storm Nate, located off the west coast of Mexico, Sept. 9, 2011. Chita Johnson and Greg Ramirez, reporters from KHOU in Houston, accompanied the Citizen Airmen on the storm mission. Based out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., these 403rd Wing Reservists collect data for the National Hurricane Center in Miami, enabling forecasters there to increase forecasting accuracy by 30 percent. Share

Maj. John Wagner, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, flies a WC-130J "Hurricane Hunter" through Tropical Storm Nate, located off the west coast of Mexico, Sept. 9, 2011. While Wagner and his crew collected data on Tropical Storm Nate, other Citizen Airmen in the 53rd WRS collected data on Hurricane Katia and Tropical Storm Maria during a very busy Atlantic storm season. Based out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., these 403rd Wing Reservists collect data for the National Hurricane Center in Miami, enabling forecasters there to increase forecasting accuracy by 30 percent. Share

The center of circulation of Tropical Storm Lee can be seen as the WC-130J aircraft flys over Tropical Storm Lee Sept. 3. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters,” were heading back to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss, after penetrating the storm Sept. 2. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock) Share

Staff Sgt. Larry Banks, a weather reconnaissance loadmaster with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, looks around the side of the computer to ensure everything is ready to go before penetrating Tropical Storm Lee Sept. 2. Banks collects and records vertical meteorlogical data from a parachute-borne sensor known as a dropsonde. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock) Share

The sun sets as the clouds break after the WC-130J aircraft penetrates Tropical Storm Lee Sept. 2. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters,” were gathering atmospheric data on the storm to send to the National Hurricane Center. The crew evacuated the aircraft to Houston ahead of the wind and rain from Tropical Storm Lee set to impact Keesler Air Force Base over Labor Day weekend. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock) Share

The sun tries to break through the thick clouds surrounding the WC-130J aircraft as it penetrates Tropical Storm Lee Sept. 2. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters,” were gathering atmospheric data to relay to the National Hurricane Center for their forecast models. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock) Share

Lt. Col. Darryl Woods, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron pilot, takes a quick break to eat sushi before flying into Tropical Storm Lee Sept. 2. The crew was monitoring weather conditions in the storm, which was located in the Gulf of Mexico. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock) Share

Maj. Sean Cross, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance pilot and aircraft commander, looks back at the navigator to confirm the aircraft's position as the crew prepares to fly into Tropical Storm Lee Sept. 2. Tropical Storm Lee was in the Gulf of Mexico and was heading toward the Gulf Coast. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock) Share

Maj. Phillip Dobson, a navigator with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, monitors the aircraft's track as the crew prepares to fly into Tropical Storm Lee Sept. 2. Dobson keeps track of the aircraft's position and movement and monitors radar to avoid tornadic activity. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock) Share

Staff Sgt. Larry Banks, a weather reconnaissance loadmaster with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, prepares to drop a parachute-borne sensor, known as a dropsonde Sept. 2. Banks collects and records vertical meteorlogical data from the dropsonde to measure and encode weather data down to the ocean surface. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock) Share

Capt. Kyle Larson, an aerial weather reconnaissance officer assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, monitors the weather while flying through Tropical Storm Lee Sept. 2. Larson observes and records meteorological data at flight level using a computer that encodes weather data every 30 seconds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock) Share