MIAMI, Fla.

Tech. Sgt. Zachary Hulsey, 5th Operational Weather Flight weather craftsman, conducts a weather brief at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida while doing weather support for the Chief Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination All Hurricanes. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) Share

UNKNOWN, US

Senior Airman Jesse Lunsford, 5th Operational Weather Flight weather journeyman, takes a weather observation. Members from the 5th and 12th OWF provide forecasting to assist global mission planners, ensuring the success and safety of military personnel. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) Share

MATHER AIR FIELD, Calif.

Master Sgt. Kayla Deangelo, 5th Operational Weather Flight training element chief, briefs aircrew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron during the preflight briefing before an atmospheric river mission, Feb. 18. The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters conduct atmospheric river missions to collect data that is important for forecasters at the National Weather Service and researchers to track atmospheric rivers, which are large amounts of water vapor in the earth’s atmosphere. This data is invaluable in improving the accuracy of weather models, especially in predicting the timing, intensity, and impact of these events. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Tech. Sgt. Michael Gehl, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorology technician, and Bora Gunay, 580th Software Engineering Squadron test engineer, check the software on two aerial reconnaissance weather officer stations at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., April 21, 2021. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters’” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Senior Airman Warren Reynier, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorology technician, runs an operations check on the upgraded monitor of the aerial reconnaissance weather officer station at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., May 13, 2021. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters’” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Christopher Carranza) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Master Sgt. Robert Ramos, 403rd Maintenance Squadron avionics flight chief, operates the forklift loading an aerial weather officer station onto a WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., May 13, 2021 The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, “Hurricane Hunters,” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Christopher Carranza) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Senior Airman Warren Reynier, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorology technician, connects the aerial reconnaissance weather officer station to the WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., May 13, 2021. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters’” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Christopher Carranza) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Senior Airman Warren Reynier and Master Sgt. Alexander Mitchell, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorology technicians, work on the internal wiring of the aerial reconnaissance weather officer station at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., May 12, 2021. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters’” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Christopher Carranza) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Senior Airman Warren Reynier, 403rd Maintenance Squadron meteorology technician, works on the internal wiring of the aerial reconnaissance weather officer station at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., May 12, 2021. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters’” ARWO and loadmaster/dropsonde operator stations are being upgraded with hardware and software to increase their weather collecting capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Christopher Carranza) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 403rd Wing's 5th Operational Weather Flight provide weather data for flight operations, putting their military training to the test during an enhanced training exercise called Operation Southern Comfort Jan 13-16, 2020, which took place at the Mississippi National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center, Gulfport, Mississippi and Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This training exercise was created with the intent to observe these Airmen perform their job duties in a simulated wartime environment. The Airmen were given tasks that they may encounter to include simulated chemical attacks, threats, air and ground attacks. These "attacks" were designed to see how they react, if they react correctly and how long it takes to react; which determines if they received the proper training and that they understand the training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek) 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