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

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Hunting Hurricanes

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

As You Read, Think About: How do hurricane hunters help keep people on the ground safe?

Rebecca Waddington flew through the dark, stormy sky. Sudden bursts of wind shook the pilot’s small jet. It was September 2020. Waddington was flying over the Gulf of Mexico, off the west coast of Florida. This was one of the bumpiest flights of her life. The storm she was flying through 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 information about these deadly storms—and help keep people on the ground safe. 

Rebecca Waddington flew through the dark, stormy sky. Sudden bursts of wind shook the pilot’s small jet. It was September 2020. Waddington was flying over the Gulf of Mexico. That’s off the west coast of Florida. This was one of the bumpiest flights of her life. The storm she was flying through 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 information about these deadly storms. This 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, which lasts from June through November. Hurricanes are powerful spinning storms that form over the ocean. They bring heavy rains and swirling winds that can top 150 miles per hour. Hurricanes that reach land can topple trees, flood towns, and destroy homes and businesses.

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). These long tubes are attached to small parachutes. As they fall, dropsondes record temperature, wind speed and direction, and other measurements. 

A crew member aboard the plane sends all that information to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. There, meteorologists use the data to predict a hurricane’s path and intensity in case it reaches land. They warn people to evacuate, or flee to safety, if the storm is headed their way.

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

This time of year is especially busy for Waddington. It’s Atlantic hurricane season. This lasts from June through November. Hurricanes are powerful spinning storms. They form over the ocean. They bring heavy rains and swirling winds. The wind speed can top 150 miles per hour. Hurricanes that reach land can topple trees and flood towns. They can also destroy homes and businesses.

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). These long tubes are attached to small parachutes. As they fall, dropsondes record the temperature. They also measure the wind speed and direction, and more. 

A crew member aboard the plane sends all that information to the National Hurricane Center. It’s located in Miami, Florida. There, meteorologists use the data to predict a hurricane’s path. They also predict its intensity in case it reaches land. They warn people to evacuate, or flee to safety, if the storm is headed their way.

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

Facing Danger

Some of NOAA’s planes fly directly into hurricanes. Waddington compares them to rhinos that “bust right through” the center of the storm. But the jet she pilots usually flies high above hurricanes. Waddington says the jet is built for speed, like a cheetah. 

“We fly much faster so we can cover a lot of area,” she says. 

Waddington’s crew studies the storm and monitors the conditions in the area it’s moving toward. This tells meteorologists a lot about the future path of the storm. Each demanding mission takes about eight hours. 

Waddington says people sometimes give her strange looks when she tells them about her job. But she wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

“We are just scientists who understand the importance of the data we collect,” she says. “And we love flying!” 

Some of NOAA’s planes fly directly into hurricanes. Waddington compares them to rhinos. That’s because they “bust right through” the center of the storm. But the jet she pilots usually flies high above hurricanes. Waddington says the jet is built for speed. It’s like a cheetah.

 “We fly much faster so we can cover a lot of area,” she says. 

Waddington’s crew studies the storm and monitors the conditions in the area it’s moving toward. This tells meteorologists a lot about the future path of the storm. Each demanding mission takes about eight hours.  

Waddington says people sometimes give her strange looks when she tells them about her job. But she wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

“We are just scientists who understand the importance of the data we collect,” she says. “And we love flying!”

Inside a Hurricane

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

QA International
  • 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.

  • The eyewall is the ring of clouds that surrounds the eye. The strongest winds are found here.


Inside a Hurricane

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

QA International


  • 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.

  • The eyewall is the ring of clouds that surrounds the eye. The strongest winds are found here.

1. What contrast does the author draw between hurricane hunters and other pilots? 

2. Describe the steps hurricane hunters take to keep people safe.

3. Why does the author call the work of Rebecca Waddington and her crew “demanding”?

1. What contrast does the author draw between hurricane hunters and other pilots? 

2. Describe the steps hurricane hunters take to keep people safe.

3. Why does the author call the work of Rebecca Waddington and her crew “demanding”?

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