Hurricane Season

Hurricane Hunters Aircraft Visits U.S. Virgin Islands as Part of Awareness Tour

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Hurricane Hunters aircraft visited the U.S. Virgin Islands on Wednesday, where invited parties were given tours of the aircraft as part of NOAA's hurricane awareness push.  "Specially equipped NOAA aircraft play an integral role in hurricane forecasting. Data collected during hurricanes by these high-flying meteorological stations help forecasters make accurate predictions during a hurricane and help hurricane researchers achieve a better understanding of storm processes, improving their forecast models," reads a description of the aircraft on NOAA's website. Tours were scheduled for St. Thomas and St. Croix. Invited guests during the tour on Wednesday included JROTC students, who held discussions with the aircraft's crew. Senators and Bryan administration cabinet members were also invited to the tour. Colorado State University hurricane researchers are predicting an active Atlantic hurricane season in 2022, citing the likely absence of El Niño as ...