Summary Hurricane Ernesto upgraded: sustained winds over 75 mph, now a major storm. Aircraft fleet monitoring storm includes NOAA and Air Force Reserves. Hurricane Hunters collect crucial meteorological data for forecasting.
On the morning of Wednesday, August 14, tropical storm Ernesto was officially upgraded to a hurricane. As the storm was moving through the Atlantic Ocean north of Puerto Rico, the storm had sustained winds of over 75 miles per hour. This officially meets the criteria of a hurricane, triggering the upgrade from a tropical storm to a hurricane .
Forecasters and officials have also stated that as it makes landfall in Puerto Rico, the storm could pick up speed and gain strength. This would increase the hurricane's rating and make it a major storm. This also means that as the storm becomes stronger, it will constantly be monitored by several different fleets of aircraft.
Monitoring through the air The 2024 hurricane season is expected to be busier than usual. To help monitor the storm, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the 403rd Wing of the Air Force Reserves, which is based out of Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, operate aircraft capable of flying in, around, and above the incoming storm. These aircraft provide crucial information to weather forecasters and prediction models that help determine the storm's future danger.
On August 14, Flightradar24 reported several aircraft operating above the incoming storm. Additio.