‘Hunters’ CHAT with island nations

KEESLER AFB, Miss. – The ‘Hurricane Hunters’ of Kessler AFB and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters were on an April 8-13 mission to six Caribbean island-nations and Mexico to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season that begins June 1. The annual event is called the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour (CHAT). More than 20,000 people attended this year's events, which stopped at Veracruz and Cozumel, Mexico; San Jose, Costa Rica; Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; and Aruba and Curacao. Residents toured the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron’s WC-130J and NOAA’s P-3 Orion aircrafts. The AF and NOAA Hurricane Hunters fly and collect data for National Hurricane Center forecasts and warnings, and coordinate those forecasts with these countries, said Ken Graham, NHC director. CHAT is one way NHC builds relationships with regional nations. During hurricanes, 53rd WRS aircrews can fly through the eye of a storm up to six times. They collect temperature, wind speed, barometric pressure, surface wind speed and flight-level data. The data is transmitted to NHC to assist with their storm warnings and forecast models in the Atlantic, Caribbean and eastern Pacific. “This way, when they are in a hurricane’s path they are more likely to realize that these forecasts are more than just guesswork and they will heed the warnings and be prepared,” said Lt. Col. Jeff Ragusa, 53rd WRS chief pilot. The outreach mission began in the 1970s. (Source: Keesler AFB 04/16/19)