Hurricane Hunter aircraft to visit Cayman

(CNS): NOAA and the US Air Force Reserve are planning a series of public events later this month in the Caribbean region and in Mexico, to urge residents to prepare for the 2011 hurricane season. According to a release from NOAA tours of the Air Force Reserve Command’s WC-130J “Hurricane Hunter” aircraft will be available to residents along with the opportunity to meet US National Hurricane Centre Director Bill Read and other hurricane specialists and meteorologists from NOAA. The Hunter is scheduled to visit the Cayman Islands on the afternoon of 23 March.

“The 2010 season was one of the most active on record with the most significant impact occurring across the Caribbean and Latin America. The next hurricane season begins on June 1st and we want coastal residents to be ready for it,” said Read. “Lives and property are saved through awareness and preparedness.”

Since 1944, military air crews have been flying directly into the core of tropical cyclones to gather critical weather data. Today, the data are sent in real time via satellite from the aircraft directly to the National Hurricane Centre for analysis and use by hurricane forecasters. During the 2010 hurricane season, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew 100 missions in the Atlantic, covering 127 centre fix requirements and 15 investigative flights for the National Hurricane Centre.

"The squadron is the only remaining military unit in the world which routinely flies into tropical cyclones to aid in the United States Hurricane Warning Program," said Lt. Col. Jonathan Talbot, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron chief weather officer.