Aircraft best known for flying directly into hurricanes are being used this week to improve forecasts for a major winter storm expected to impact large portions of the United States.
Crews from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Air Force are conducting specialized Hurricane Hunter missions to collect atmospheric data that forecasters say can significantly improve winter weather predictions.
The DX Brief
- Hurricane Hunter aircraft are flying missions ahead of a major winter storm expected to affect wide areas of the country
- The aircraft are operated by NOAA and the U.S. Air Force and are typically used during hurricane season
- Flights are focused over the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, where weather data is limited
- Crews deploy dropsondes that measure temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind as they fall through the atmosphere
- The data feeds directly into National Weather Service forecast models, improving predictions for snow, ice, and storm timing
- Officials say the missions are especially valuable during high-impact storms, when small forecast errors can lead to major disruptions
Read the full KRLD / Audacy article.
