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  • Hurricane Hunters depart to fly Hilary reconnaissance

    The Air Force Reserve “Hurricane Hunters,” assigned to the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, departed today to fly weather reconnaissance missions into Hurricane Hilary to collect weather data that improves National Hurricane Center forecasts.

  • 53rd WRS supports Hurricane Lisa, Atmospheric River reconnaissance

    Colloquially referred to as the “Hurricane Hunters,” the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron does in fact “hunt” hurricanes and tropical systems in all stages of formation during the Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons. While this keeps the squadron alert from mid-May to Nov. 30, they are

  • 53rd WRS flies first Pacific, Atlantic missions of the season

    The Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron’s 2022 hurricane season got off to a timely start as they flew their first fix missions of both the Pacific and Atlantic seasons this week.As a suspect area developed in the Eastern Pacific, just west of southern Mexico, the National

  • NHC, Hurricane Hunters CHAT preparedness in the Caribbean

    For the first time since 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center and the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” were able to team up for a Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico April 20-21.“The

  • Hurricane Hunters testing new SATCOM capabilities

    For the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters, the ability to transmit data in flight is tantamount to mission success.As one of their WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft powers through a hurricane, a loadmaster is in the back, preparing and launching dropsondes that

  • Hurricane Hunters wrap up Elsa recon ahead of landfall

    The Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters wrapped up their aerial reconnaissance efforts for Tropical Storm Elsa Wednesday morning, July 7, after the storm made landfall on the northwest coast of Florida.The 53rd WRS is assigned to the 403rd Wing and is the only

  • Hurricane Hunters prepared for hurricane season takeoff

    The 403rd Wing’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based out of Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, is the only Department of Defense organization that flies weather reconnaissance missions.The Hurricane Hunters’--as they are more commonly referred to—mission, as it relates to tropical

  • 403rd Wing weathers record storm season

    The 2020 Atlantic and Pacific hurricane seasons, at least technically, came to an end Nov. 30, and what a season it was.  The Atlantic side saw many records broken throughout the season, including dethroning 2005 and its 28 named storms as the busiest season on record with 30 named storms. In

  • 53rd WRS Hurricane Hunters depart for St. Croix

    The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, a 403rd Wing unit at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, departed today for St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, to start flying reconnaissance into Tropical Storm Paulette. The Hurricane Hunters provide weather data from the storm to improve National Hurricane