KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

A WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., emerges from Tropical Storm Elsa July 6, 2021. Elsa briefly regained hurricane strength before making landfall as a strong tropical storm on the northwest coast of Florida July 7. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Gretchen Dues) Share

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss.

Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, took off today from Keesler Air Force Base on their way to Homestead Air Reserve Base in southern Florida prepositioning for an Atlantic storm mission. The Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to begin flying Tropical Storm Elsa, July 2. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jessica L. 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

RENOTAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Nev.

Master Sgt. Chris Becvar, loadmaster for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., loads a dropsonde into a chute during an atmospheric river reconnaissance flight out of Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Nev., Jan. 31, 2021. Upon it's release, the dropsonde measures atmospheric data such as barometric pressure, temperature, and humidity and transmits the data back to the WC-130J where it is assimilated into forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

RENOTAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Nev.

1st Lt. Tim Viere, pilot for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., steers a WC-130J "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft during an atmospheric river reconnaissance mission from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Nev., Jan. 31, 2021. The 53rd WRS is part of the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing and is the only unit of its kind in the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

RENOTAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Nev.

Maj. Sonia Walker, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, looks on as Master Sgt. Chris Becvar, loadmaster for the 53rd WRS, points out a chart on his screen during an reconnaissance flight out of Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Nev., Jan. 31, 2021. The unit arrived in Reno in January and will stay until anytime from late February to early March to collect atmospheric data from bands of moisture off the West Coast. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share

RENOTAHOE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Nev.

Capt. Peyton Eustis, aircraft commander for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., goes through his pre-flight checklist before departing for an atmospheric river reconnaissance flight from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Nev., Jan. 31, 2021. The 53rd WRS, known as the "Hurricane Hunters," fly more than just hurricanes, supporting forecasters for winter storms. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Kristen Pittman) Share