By Team Grenada

POINT SALINES, St.George’s: On Thursday March 16,2006, a group of Hurricane Hunters from the United States of America, touch down with their WC-130 aircraft at the Point Saline’s International Airport for a two day educational visit.

Hurricane Hunters refer to aviators with the US Air Force Reserves 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, who fly right into the eye of a hurricane to gather critical data (on the temperature, humidity, pressure and winds inside the storm). The weather information is processed aboard the aircraft and transmitted by satellite to the National Hurricane Center, based in the United States. This information is then used to make predictions about the size, strength and future trajectory of a hurricane. Meteorological offices in the region are then able to use that information to issue early warnings and advisories, which invariably results in many lives being saved.

The WC-130 carries enough fuel for up to fourteen hours of flight and carries around six to fifteen persons. The inside of the aircraft contains extremely sophisticated, state of the art weather equipment that is used to collate information on weather systems. The average flight lasts between ten to eleven hours. The Hurricane Hunters have been in this line of business since 1944.

Many excited and curious Grenadians, which included school children, teachers, NADMA officials and the Prime Minister, the Hon. Keith Mitchell, were present at the airport to look at the aircraft and chat with the very amicable team of expert weathermen. Many Grenadians saw this visit as a very opportune one, coming just a few months ahead of the official hurricane season, which begins in June and ends in November. Last year (2005) was a record breaking year for hurricanes in the Atlantic Basin.

The Hunters flew out of the island on Friday night.

More information on the Hurricane Hunters can be found on any of the following web sites:

http://www.fema.gov/kids/huhunt.htm

http://www.edhelper.com/ReadingComprehension_27_75.html

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6012312/site/newsweek/