To most people, hurricanes are to be avoided at all cost. The thought of intentionally flying an airplane directly into a hurricane is quickly dismissed as a very bad idea. Yet there are small groups of aircrew and scientists who regularly board planes that will not only penetrate the storm but will spend hours crisscrossing it in order to get a better idea of what the storm will do next.
Hurricane Irma is one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded and has plowed its way across the Caribbean this week. Irma has turned what once was beachside paradises into mostly uninhabitable stretches of land. Barbuda and St. Martin have suffered catastrophic damage, including to ports and airports, that will only hamper relief efforts. Unfortunately, much of Florida is now next for Irma and damage is expected to be catastrophic. Mass evacuations have been ordered for large areas of the state.