A powerful storm is heading for the West Coast this weekend, and thanks to the work of the Air Force’s Hurricane Hunters, forecasters are getting a clearer picture of what’s coming. These special pilots, part of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, flew a 10-hour mission overnight from Thursday into Friday to gather crucial weather data from the storm brewing over the Pacific Ocean.
This storm is expected to bring heavy rain and flooding to parts of Washington and Oregon starting Saturday and lasting through Tuesday. To help predict its impact, the Hurricane Hunters are set to fly two more missions on Friday, including one taking off from Honolulu, Hawaii.
Though their name suggests they focus on hurricanes, during winter these crews shift their attention to atmospheric rivers — massive streams of moisture in the atmosphere that can lead to intense storms on the West Coast. According to Lt. Col. Ryan Rickert, an aerial reconnaissance weather officer, the data they collect is essential for improving weather forecasts.
The missions are no small feat. The crews fly between 24,000 and 32,000 feet, dropping advanced weather instruments called dropsondes into the storm. These devices capture real-time information on wind speed, temperature, humidity, and pressure — data that ground-based stations and satellites simply can’t match.
This information is then sent to the National Center for Environmental Prediction, where it’s used to fine-tune weather models and provide more accurate forecasts.
Beyond Hawaii, the Hurricane Hunters are also launching missions from Washington state, California, Mississippi, and for the first time, Yokota Air Base in Japan.
As for the storm itself, the Pacific Northwest is bracing for a wild few days. Starting Saturday, heavy rain will pound coastal areas, with some regions expecting up to 8 inches of rainfall by Tuesday. Flash flood warnings are in place, and river flooding is likely, especially along the Skokomish River, which could rise above its flood stage by Sunday.
Higher elevations in the Cascades, starting around 6,500 feet, are also expected to see significant snowfall. Meanwhile, parts of Idaho and Montana face a dangerous flash flood threat, as the ground remains frozen from recent subzero temperatures.
With extreme weather on the horizon, the data gathered by the Hurricane Hunters could make a big difference in keeping people prepared and safe.
