Hurricane Field Program Update — Thursday, October 17, 2019, 5pm EDT

We are planning two flights into Potential Tropical Cyclone 16 for Friday.  The first, with NOAA42, will depart Lakeland at 0800 EDT (1200 UTC) and perform a lawnmower pattern through and around the system The second, with NOAA43, will depart 12 hour later, and perform a butterfly pattern Both will return to Lakeland.  Both missions …

Hurricane Field Program Update — Sunday, September 29, 2019, 10pm EDT

All three NOAA aircraft flew in and around Hurricane Lorenzo today, with both P3s flying the same tracks (at 8 and 10 kft) through the storm within 15 minutes of each other. The G-IV departed the storm just as the P3s were entering. The G-IV flew an HRD research mission in support of the NESDIS …

Hurricane Field Program Update — Friday, September 27, 2019, 5pm EDT

All three aircraft, NOAA42, NOAA43, and NOAA49, are now in Barbados due to Hurricane Lorenzo.  NOAA43 spent today conducting a search-and-rescue mission for the tug supply vessel Bourbon Rhode, while NOAA49 conducted its mission as scheduled.  For tomorrow, NOAA42 will conduct another search-and-rescue mission for the tug, while NOAA43 and NOAA49 conduct research missions. NOAA49 will …

Hurricane Field Program Update — Thursday, September 26, 2019, 5pm EDT

Both NOAA43 and NOAA49 are now in Barbados prepared for missions into Hurricane Lorenzo.  NOAA49 will conduct a NESDIS Satellite Validation and Diurnal Cycle Experiment, takeoff from Barbados 0800 AST/EDT (1200 UTC).  The goal is to sample the region around Lorenzo, including the Saharan Air Layer, and regions deemed sensitive to future forecasts.  There will …

Hurricane Field Program Update — Wednesday, September 25, 2019, 5pm EDT

In preparation for research flights into Hurricane Lorenzo, both NOAA43 and NOAA49 will ferry from Lakeland to Barbados Thursday, 26 September.  NOAA43 will depart at 1000 EDT (1400 UTC) and NOAA49 will leave one hour later.  More details on the specific missions will be provided in tomorrow's update. For the latest information about tropical cyclones …

Hurricane Field Program Update — Friday, September 20, 2019, 5pm EDT

NOAA49 will conduct a tropical cyclone in shear research in and around Hurricane Jerry.  Takeoff will be from Barbados at 1330 AST (1730 UTC), with recovery in Lakeland about 8 hours later.  NOAA42 will be conducting an operational INVEST mission into AL99 just to the east of the Windward Islands, with takeoff at 1030 AST …

Hurricane Field Program Update — Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 10pm EDT

After completing a research mission around Tropical Storm Jerry today, NOAA49 will switch to operations, with a synoptic surveillance mission Thursday.  Takeoff will be at 1:30 pm local time (1730 UTC) from Barbados, with a return there about 8 hours later. The targets are the storm itself and the southwest periphery of the subtropical ridge …

Hurricane Field Program Update — Tuesday, September 17, 2019, 10pm EDT

NOAA49 will conduct a mission in and around Tropical Depression 10, departing Barbados at 0900 local time (1300 UTC), and returning there about 8 hours later.  The aircraft will perform a lawnmower pattern to sample the environment and a circumnavigation of the system about 120 n mi from the center.  The goal is to sample …

Hurricane Field Program Update — Monday, September 16, 2019, 11pm EDT

After completing its fourth mission into Hurricane Humberto Monday, NOAA42 will conduct another NESDIS-tasked Ocean Winds mission into Hurricane Humberto on 17 September, departing Lakeland around 1 pm EDT (1700 UTC) and returning there about 8 hours later.  The aircraft will sample Humberto in a figure-four pattern and then perform maneuvers for ocean winds.  This …

Hurricane Field Program Update — Sunday, September 15, 2019, 11pm EDT

NOAA42 will conduct a NESDIS-tasked Ocean Winds mission into Hurricane Humberto on 16 September, departing Lakeland around 2 pm EDT (1800 UTC) and returning there about 8 hours later.  The aircraft will sample Humberto in a figure-four pattern and then perform maneuvers for ocean winds.  A follow-on mission is planned for Tuesday. The G-IV will …