Flying Into the Eye of the Storm: A Meteorologist’s Path to Hurricane Research

In 2022, when Hurricane Ian stormed across headlines with a viral video showcasing extreme turbulence experienced by NOAA’s hurricane hunters, Chris was captivated. “It looked like a ton of fun,” he said. “Behind astronaut, I can’t think of anything cooler than being a Hurricane Hunter.”

A Dream Takes Flight

Studying meteorology in college, Chris found a mentor in Dr. Josh Wadler, an assistant professor in the Applied Aviation Science department with extensive experience flying into hurricanes. This connection led to an extraordinary opportunity: joining NOAA on a mission to collect atmospheric data inside Hurricane Rafael. “Dr. Wadler had an experiment testing new observation tools but didn’t want to miss teaching, so he asked me to go in his place,” Chris shared.

Despite the potential danger, “Flying into hurricanes is just really exciting because what better way is there to study hurricanes than to be in the middle of one?”

Inside the Storm

Preparation for the flight began in the dead of night with a 1 a.m. pre-flight briefing at NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center in Lakeland, Florida. The team reviewed the flight path, safety protocols and the instruments they would deploy. “The team flies a hexagonal pattern, cutting through the storm,” Chris described. This pattern allows for a comprehensive collection of data on the storm’s internal structure.

As the plane neared the storm, the crew initialized all the equipment and released the instruments in swarms, like in the movie Twister! The instruments dropped into the storm collected temperature, humidity, wind speed and pressure data. “We focused on testing a new instrument, a Streamsonde, to validate its performance against established tools.”

The Role of Emerging Technology

Such missions not only fuel scientific understanding but also improve forecasting accuracy. “NOAA’s recon flights provide initial conditions for models, making them more accurate,” Chris said. The storm’s data is carefully analyzed post-flight, undergoing rigorous quality control to ensure accuracy. “We compared the new technology results with known standards to verify their validity,” Chris said, reflecting on their role in advancing atmospheric research.

The Road Ahead

While the experience has solidified Chris’s love for hurricane research, it has also fueled broader ambitions. “Hurricanes are just one branch of meteorology,” they noted. “But they’re my focus—there’s so much to learn.”

With plans to pursue a Ph.D., Chris hopes to deepen their expertise in both observational and simulation-based research. Their ultimate goal? To join NOAA as a full-fledged Hurricane Hunter, combining his passion for atmospheric science with his love for adventurous.

Conclusion

For Chris, the convergence of cutting-edge technology, critical research and a bit of daring creates can only be achieved through his learning here at Embry-Riddle and industry connections made through professors and mentors. His story is not just about flying into storms but about chasing a dream—and the science—that promises to make the world a safer place. “The excitement of being in the storm trumps any fear,” he said. “And there’s no better way to learn than from the heart of the hurricane.”