Hurricane Hunters plan missions into Tropical Depression 2 through at least Saturday
At least four Hurricane Hunter missions have been scheduled to investigate Invest 91L between Thursday and Saturday.
Hurricane Hunters take off on first mission to investigate Invest 91L
A Hurricane Hunter aircraft took off from Biloxi, Mississippi, on Thursday afternoon on its first mission to investigate Invest 91L.
BILOXI, Miss. – The first day of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season started with a vengeance Thursday with the development of Tropical Depression Two in the Gulf of Mexico and a Hurricane Hunter mission into the system off the Florida coast.
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Current information on Tropical Depression Two.
(FOX Weather)
Recent satellite wind data, along with buoy and ship observations, have indicated the tropical depression has a broad but well-defined circulation with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, the NHC said. The storm is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Arlene soon.
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Hurricane Hunters' schedule
The Hurricane Hunters began flying into the tropical disturbance starting Thursday using the WC-130J aircraft to investigate the system.
"It’s the perfect airframe for this because we just need data," FOX Weather meteorologist Britta Merwin said. "What is actually going on? Do we have a closed low? That’s all the information that we’re looking for today."
Merwin added that the flight is expected to take place between 1,000 and 10,000 feet and will use dropsondes, which are tubes containing weather instruments that are dropped from the airplane into a disturbance to get essential data on a developing system.
Here are the flights scheduled by the Hurricane Hunters for Tropical Depression Two as of Thursday afternoon. All times are Eastern:
- Thursday, 1 flight: Takeoff at 1:45 p.m. and in the system from 2:30 p.m.-7 p.m.
- Friday, 2 flights: Takeoff at 6:15 a.m. and in the system from 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Takeoff at 6 p.m. and in the system from 7 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
- Saturday, 1 flight: Takeoff at 5:45 a.m. and in the system from 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
![Important data will be collected from a Hurricane Hunter aircraft flying into Invest 91L on Thursday, June 1, 2023.]()
Image 1 of 9Important data will be collected from a Hurricane Hunter aircraft flying into Invest 91L on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Nicole Valdes)
![A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying its first mission to investigate Invest 91L on Thursday, June 1, 2023.]()
Image 2 of 9A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying its first mission to investigate Invest 91L on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Nicole Valdes)
![A U.S. flag is seen on a Hurricane Hunter aircraft flying into Invest 91L on Thursday, June 1, 2023.]()
Image 3 of 9A U.S. flag is seen on a Hurricane Hunter aircraft flying into Invest 91L on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Nicole Valdes)
![A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying into Invest 91L on Thursday, June 1, 2023.]()
Image 4 of 9A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying into Invest 91L on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Nicole Valdes)
![The NHC says Invest 91L could become a tropical depression or tropical storm on Thursday, June 1, 2023.]()
Image 5 of 9The NHC says Invest 91L could become a tropical depression or tropical storm on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Nicole Valdes)
![A Hurricane Hunter aircraft will help to determine if Invest 91L has developed any further.]()
Image 6 of 9A Hurricane Hunter aircraft will help to determine if Invest 91L has developed any further. (Nicole Valdes)
![A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying into Invest 91L to investigate the tropical disturbance for tropical development on Thursday, June 1, 2023.]()
Image 7 of 9A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying into Invest 91L to investigate the tropical disturbance for tropical development on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Nicole Valdes)
![A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying into Invest 91L to investigate the tropical disturbance for tropical development on Thursday, June 1, 2023.]()
Image 8 of 9A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying into Invest 91L to investigate the tropical disturbance for tropical development on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Nicole Valdes)
![A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying into Invest 91L to investigate the tropical disturbance for tropical development on Thursday, June 1, 2023.]()
Image 9 of 9A Hurricane Hunter aircraft is flying into Invest 91L to investigate the tropical disturbance for tropical development on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (Nicole Valdes)
Stay with Hurricane HQ on FOX Weather for the latest on this developing story.