By Air Force Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek, 403rd Wing
BARBERS POINT KAPOLEI, Hawaii -- Air Force Reserve Hurricane
Hunters’ missions into Hurricane Lane were cancelled yesterday so they could
move out of the storm’s path as it approached Hawaii.
The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, based out of
Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, began flying into Hurricane Lane out of
the Kalaeloa Airport on Aug. 20 to collect weather data for the Central Pacific
Hurricane Center to assist with their forecasts.
When the airmen began flying into Hurricane Lane, it was a
Category 4 storm that was predicted to weaken to a Category 3, with the
possibility of the storm changing course and moving south of the islands.
Using information provided by the Hurricane Hunters, the
Central Pacific Hurricane Center adjusted its forecast, finding that the
intensity had increased and the path moved to a northern route with a direct
landfall to Hawaii possible later in the week.
The Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are data-sparse
environments, due to the lack of radar and weather balloons in those areas, and
satellite data can be incomplete, officials said. The data the Hurricane
Hunters provide assists forecast accuracy, as the 53rd WRS flies into the storm
and directly measures the surface winds and pressure. The data assists with
forecast movement and intensity models.
Gathering Data
The Hurricane Hunters fly the storms to determine the center
of the storm by using dropsondes and the Stepped Frequency Microwave
Radiometer, which is used to measure wind speeds on the water surface. They
then send the data collected to the National Hurricane Center to assist
forecasters in projecting the paths of the storms.
While flying the storm the evening of Aug. 20, Air Force
Maj. Kimberly Spusta, 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer, said the
wind speeds had increased between the first pass through the eye of the storm
to the second pass. Hurricane Lane strengthened to a Category 5 storm the
evening of Aug. 21 during a final mission by the Hurricane Hunters.
This is the second time this year the 53rd WRS has deployed
to Hawaii. They flew missions into Hurricane Hector in early August.
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