Photo of two pilots driving a plane against a backdrop of lightning

Rebecca Waddington (left) and co-pilot Kristie Twining sit in the cockpit of a hurricane hunter jet.

Brad Fitzler/NOAA (Waddington & Twining); Shutterstock.com (background)

Article Options

Presentation View
Teaching Resources

Lexile® measure

Hunting Hurricanes

Meet a pilot who flies straight toward some of Earth’s most powerful storms.

As You Read: Identify one way that hurricane hunters help people on the ground stay safe. 

Take Flight with Hurricane Hunters
Watch a video to see Hurricane Hunters in action!

In September 2020, pilot Rebecca Waddington was flying off the west coast of Florida. Suddenly, strong winds slammed into her small jet. It was one of the bumpiest flights of her life. What was happening? 

Waddington was flying through a dangerous storm. It would later become Hurricane Sally. 

Most pilots try to avoid dangerous weather, but not Waddington. She is a hurricane hunter with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Waddington and her crew collect data about these deadly storms. Their work helps keep people on the ground safe. 

In September 2020, pilot Rebecca Waddington was flying off the west coast of Florida. Suddenly, strong winds slammed into her small jet. It was one of the bumpiest flights of her life. What was happening? 

Waddington was flying through a dangerous storm. It would later become Hurricane Sally. 

Most pilots try to avoid dangerous weather. But not Waddington. She is a hurricane hunter. She works with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Waddington and her crew collect data about these deadly storms. Their work helps keep people on the ground safe.

CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images

Heavy rains from Hurricane Sally flooded streets in Pensacola, Florida, in September 2020.

Super Storms

This time of year is especially busy for Waddington. It’s Atlantic hurricane season. The season lasts from June through November. 

Hurricanes are powerful storms that form over the ocean. They bring heavy rains and winds that can blow more than 150 miles per hour. Hurricanes that reach land can knock down trees, flood towns, and destroy buildings.

This time of year is especially busy for Waddington. It’s Atlantic hurricane season. The season lasts from June through November. 

Hurricanes are powerful storms that form over the ocean. They bring heavy rains and strong winds. The winds can blow more than 150 miles per hour. Hurricanes that reach land can knock down trees and flood towns. They can also destroy buildings.

Flying Into Danger

Knowing when and where a big storm will hit can save lives. That’s where hurricane hunters come in. During a flight, crew members release dropsondes (DRAHP-sahndz) from the plane. These long tubes are attached to small parachutes. As they fall through the air, dropsondes record temperature, wind speed, and other information. 

A crew member on the plane sends all the information to the National Hurricane Center. That’s in Miami, Florida. Meteorologists there use the data to try to figure out a hurricane’s path. They warn people to evacuate, or flee to safety, if the hurricane is headed their way.

“Sometimes the data we collect is used to tell people to leave their homes and might save their lives,” Waddington explains. “That’s definitely the most rewarding part of the job.”

Knowing when and where a big storm will hit can save lives. That’s where hurricane hunters come in. During a flight, crew members release dropsondes (DRAHP-sahndz) from the plane. These long tubes are attached to small parachutes. As they fall through the air, dropsondes record temperature and wind speed. They also collect other information. 

A crew member on the plane sends all the information to the National Hurricane Center. That’s in Miami, Florida. Meteorologists there use the data to try to figure out a hurricane’s path. They warn people in the hurricane’s path to evacuate. That means they flee to safety. 

“Sometimes the data we collect is used to tell people to leave their homes and might save their lives,” Waddington explains. “That’s definitely the most rewarding part of the job.”

Inside a Hurricane

Hurricanes form when warm air from the ocean’s surface rises and meets cool air above it. This causes storm clouds, rain, and strong winds. When winds reach 74 miles per hour, the storm is called a hurricane.

  • Winds blowing on the ocean’s surface push the hurricane across the water and toward land.
  • The eye is the calm center of the hurricane.
  • Clouds roll in a swirling pattern around the eye.
  • An eyewall is the ring of clouds around the eye. The strongest winds are here.
QA International

Inside a Hurricane

Hurricanes form when warm air from the ocean’s surface rises and meets cool air above it. This causes storm clouds, rain, and strong winds. When winds reach 74 miles per hour, the storm is called a hurricane.

  • Winds blowing on the ocean’s surface push the hurricane across the water and toward land.
  • The eye is the calm center of the hurricane.
  • Clouds roll in a swirling pattern around the eye.
  • An eyewall is the ring of clouds around the eye. The strongest winds are here.
QA International
  1. How does the author say Rebecca Waddington is different from other pilots?
  2. Describe how hurricane hunters help keep people safe.
  3. What does rewarding mean? Why does Waddington call her work rewarding?
  1. How does the author say Rebecca Waddington is different from other pilots?
  2. Describe how hurricane hunters help keep people safe.
  3. What does rewarding mean? Why does Waddington call her work rewarding?
videos (2)
videos (2)
Skills Sheets (4)
Skills Sheets (4)
Skills Sheets (4)
Skills Sheets (4)
Games (1)
TEACHER SUPPORT (1)
Leveled Articles (1)
Text-to-Speech