Introduction to Hurricane Hunters
Although the 2025 hurricane season seems like it’s been slow to start with only five named storms, there’s still a long way to go, and with NOAA’s above-average prediction, that streak won’t likely last.
What You Need To Know
- Hurricane Hunters fly into a tropical system to gain information about the storm
- Peter Guittari flew for the Hurricane Hunters’ squadron for twelve years
- Most intense storm he flew into was Super Typhoon Forrest 1983
Methods of Gathering Storm Information
What methods do we use to get information about a storm? If a storm is in the middle of the Atlantic, we use radar observations to get data, but if a storm is close enough to an area of land, we send scientists into the storm from above. This special group of professionals is called Hurricane Hunters.
Hurricane Hunters
Two branches of Hurricane Hunters now exist, one operated by NOAA and the other by the United States Air Force. Beginning in the 1960s, Weather Bureau aircraft began flying into storms to gain data about the intensity and conditions of the atmosphere. It wasn’t until 1976 that the aircraft had a Doppler radar.
Peter Guittari, a retired Hurricane Hunter talks about his time in the squad and the most impressive storm he flew into. from the Air Force, remembers those days in the 1970s. From 1979 through 1991, he flew missions out of Keesler Airforce Base in Biloxi, MS. He flew WC-130 military planes, Bs, Es and Hs.
"We got to see some very very nice places, including the Caribbean and the Pacific," he said, recalling his time fondly.
Retired Hurricane Hunter, Peter Guittari, reminisces about his time flying into storms.
Becoming a Hurricane Hunter
As for how he ended up a Hurricane Hunter. “I was in the 130s, and the unit needed some extra people. I was a flight engineer, and they needed extra people. A buddy of mine was in that squadron, and he called me up and asked if any of you guys would like to come here and do this? And we said yes, so that was 1979, and I was flying 130s for about four years.”
Collecting Data
Once a storm was identified that needed data, a crew was assembled and briefed. Guittari says that when they took flight, they would fly as high as they could to save fuel and then drop down to 1500 feet so the weather and dropsonde operators could collect their data.
While he flew hundreds of missions over his twelve years with the Hurricane Hunters, his most memorable storm occurred in the Pacific, specifically, Super Typhoon Forrest in Sept. 1983. “We estimated the winds to be in excess of 200 knots.”
He loved his job, and the only reason he left was that they closed the squadron down. To this day, he has an appreciation for meteorology, and although he now lives in northern Arkansas, he still follows storms when they make news.
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Conclusion
The work of Hurricane Hunters like Peter Guittari is crucial in understanding and predicting the behavior of tropical storms. Their bravery and dedication to collecting data in the face of extreme weather conditions help save lives and protect communities.
FAQs
Q: What is the role of Hurricane Hunters?
A: Hurricane Hunters are a special group of professionals who fly into tropical systems to gather information about the storm.
Q: How do Hurricane Hunters collect data?
A: Hurricane Hunters collect data by flying into storms and using radar observations, as well as dropsonde operators to collect data at lower altitudes.
Q: What is the most intense storm Peter Guittari flew into?
A: The most intense storm Peter Guittari flew into was Super Typhoon Forrest in 1983, with winds estimated to be in excess of 200 knots.
