GulfCoastWeekend.com

Delicious food, beautiful weather and … hurricanes. Yes, there are several inherent factors that come with life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and hurricane season is among them. So is Keesler Air Force Base, home of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aligned under the 403rd Reserve Wing, also known as Hurricane Hunters. The primary mission of the Hurricane Hunters is to conduct tropical storm reconnaissance. When a storm is beginning to form, the National Hurricane Center will send the 53rd WRS to investigate the system. The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season has kept the Hurricane Hunters busy. This season shattered the previous record for most named tropical storms and hurricanes in a year at 30. WLOX Gulf Coast Weekend sat down with Lt. Col. Mark Withee to discuss the particulars of hunting hurricanes.

Footage provided by 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron

Courtesy: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration