Hurricane Awareness: Aim of U.S. Hurricane Forecasters' Visit to Caribbean

With awareness and preparedness the keys to hurricane survival, "Hurricane Hunter" aircrew with their WC-130-J aircraft and a team of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) hurricane forecasters will visit six Caribbean cities this week to spread the word. The U.S. National Weather Service hurricane forecasters and aircrew from the Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron are part of the United Nations' group visiting Mexico, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico. The team will share information with Caribbean meteorological and emergency management officials to help increase public awareness of the Atlantic hurricane threat. The participating countries are part of the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) Regional Association-IV, which includes the United States and 24 countries bordering the western Atlantic.

Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, a NOAA facility in Miami, said the team was responding to the public awareness needs of the region identified by the WMO.

"The Caribbean countries are closely linked in mutual protection of their hurricane- vulnerable populations. The countries routinely share vital weather observations that help determine the track and intensity of approaching storms. The U.S. assembles this data into a forecast so that all countries may issue warnings as appropriate," Mayfield said.

"It takes many elements to make a forecast: the weather observations collected from WMO member countries, reconnaissance aircraft like the WC-130-J "Hurricane Hunter" we are flying today, satellites, computer models and the dedicated meteorologists who must weigh all this data and come to a forecast decision. Once the forecast is issued, people must heed the advice of their local government officials," Mayfield said. "The more we can do to help raise the public's awareness before the June-to-November Atlantic hurricane season, the more likely we can reduce loss of life and property.

The WMO team includes the Air Force Reserve Command air crew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. The "Hurricane Hunters" WC-130-J is designed to gather position and intensity data over the ocean by flying directly into the storm, often relaying vital information in the turbulent "eyewall" of the hurricane to forecasters in Miami.

At each location, a National Hurricane Center meteorologist will brief local officials and the media on the general impacts of hurricanes in the region. Local meteorological and emergency management officials will assist in answering media and public questions.

As a person responsible for developing forecasts, hurricane forecaster Dr. Avila observed, "the objective of these tours is to collectively help the public better understand what we and they can do to save lives and property. Together we may reduce the impact of the next storm".

The WC-130H Hercules is a modified version of the C-130 transport configured with computerized weather instrumentation for penetration of severe storms to obtain data on storm movements, dimensions and intensity. The WC-130B became operational in 1959, the E model in 1962, followed by the H model in 1964. Only the H model is currently in operation. The WC-130J, currently in testing, is scheduled to replace the WC-130H.
The WC-130 provides vital tropical cyclone forecasting information. It penetrates tropical cyclones and hurricanes at altitudes ranging from 500 to 10,000 feet (151.7 to 3,033.3 meters) above the ocean surface depending upon the intensity of the storm. The aircraft's most important function is to collect high-density, high-accuracy weather data from within the storm's environment. This includes penetration of the center or hurricane eye of the storm. This vital information is instantly relayed by satellite to the National Hurricane Center to aid in the accurate forecasting of hurricane movement and intensity.

General Characteristics
Primary Function: Weather reconnaissance
Contractor: Lockheed Aircraft Corp.
Power Plant: Four Allison turboprop engines; T-56-A-15
Length: 99 feet, 4 inches (30.10 meters)
Height: 38 feet, 6 inches (11.67 meters)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 155,000 pounds (69,750 kilograms)
Wingspan: 132 feet, 6 inches (40.15 meters)
Range: 4,000 miles (3,478 nautical miles)
Ceiling: 33,000 feet (10,000 meters)
Endurance: Can stay aloft 15 hours at 300-plus mph
Speed: 350-plus mph (Mach 0.46; 304 knots per hour)
Crew: Six; pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and dropsonde system operator
Date Deployed: 1964
Unit Cost: Approximately $13 million (1960 dollars)
Inventory: Active force; 0; ANG, 0; Reserve, 10