'Hurricane Hunters' get early jump

The “Hurricane Hunters” of the Keesler AFB, Miss.-based Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron got off to an early start to the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season by flying into Tropical Storm Arthur in the Bahamas on May 16. Arthur approached the Carolinas on May 18, making the sixth consecutive year there has been a named storm in May, before the hurricane season officially starts June 1. The 53rd WRS flew its WC-130J into the storm as it approached the Bahamas at an altitude between 500 to 1,500 feet to determine if the storm had a closed circulation, and provided data to the National Hurricane Center. “Mother Nature doesn’t operate on a calendar, so this is a reminder to always be prepared,” said 403rd Wing Commander Col. Jeffrey Van Dootingh. The storm was reported to have had a sustained surface wind speeds of more than 39 mph as it approached the Carolinas’ Outer Banks. (403rd Wing 05/16/20) https://www.dvidshub.net/news/370143/hurricane-hunters-fly-first-mission-2020-atlantic-season