Atmospheric River Storm Observations over Pacific Ocean to Expand This Winter

Filling data gaps will improve precipitation forecasts for western states. "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft are mobilizing for an expanded 13-week period that began Jan. 5 to glean critical data for improving forecasts of atmospheric river storms over the Pacific Ocean. Such storms provide up to half of the U.S. West Coast's annual precipitation and a majority of the flooding. The flights are part of the Atmospheric River Reconnaissance (AR Recon) program led by UC San Diego's Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography with support from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and California Department of Water Resources. The program works in coordination with NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and the U.S. Air Force Reserve 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" to execute data-collecting missions within these storms. This winter, two Air Force Reserve WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft will be on standby to fly out of Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento, Calif., when atmospheric rivers approach the West Coast.