Atlantic Ocean – A U.S. Air Force Reserve WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron carried out a mission on August 18, 2025, ahead of Hurricane Erin.

During the flight, the crew deployed ocean buoys as part of the Surface Atmosphere Sea Coupling: WAves, Turbulence, Currents, and Hurricanes (SASCWATCH) Project. The squadron, known as the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, worked alongside the U.S. Navy and partner agencies to collect real-time measurements of waves, currents, and atmospheric turbulence.

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Its mission focuses on gathering direct storm data to strengthen understanding of how tropical cyclones form and intensify.

On the August 18 mission, Aerial Reconnaissance Weather Officers observed the ocean’s surface during the storm flight to gather data at sea level.

Information from these flights is transmitted to the NOAA National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center to improve forecast accuracy.

The flight into Hurricane Erin encountered surface winds of 100 miles per hour.

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