National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

                     

                                                    

                                 

 

   

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

Interested in weather?

Interested in aircraft?

Well, good news!

 

Hurricane experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the United States Air Force (USAF) will visit five U.S. Gulf Coast cities this spring, flying aboard a USAF Reserve WC-130J hurricane hunter aircraft and a NOAA WP-3D Orion aircraft. The main purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the impacts from tropical cyclones and the danger of being caught without a personal hurricane plan...and they are kicking off this tour right here in Houston!

 

This event will be held at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base on May 1st and best of all... it's free!

 

Find out more information about the event below:

 

 


Event Information


What: 2023 Hurricane Awareness Tour

Where: Ellington Airport - Houston, TX

                 11210 Blume Ave
                  Houston, TX

When: Monday, May 1, 2023

            12:30 - 4PM (Gates close at 3pm to new entries)

Admission: FREE!
 

Things To Do: 

  • Tour Hurricane Hunter aircraft
  • Meet the pilots & flight crew
  • Speak with hurricane forecasters
  • Meet with local National Weather Service meteorologists
  • Walk through exhibits from various agencies & organizations
  • Learn about weather safety & preparedness

About the Planes

WC-130J - "Hercules"

The WC-130J is a high-wing, medium-range aircraft used in several weather reconnaissance missions throughout the year. This plane is specifically configured to penetrate tropical disturbances and storms, hurricanes and winter storms and is equipped with meteorological instruments and radar to obtain data on the current development, movement, size and intensity of these systems. The WC-130J is the weather data collection platform for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (also known as The Air Force Hurricane Hunters). It carries a minimum crew of five: pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and weather reconnaissance loadmaster. The crew collects and reports weather data as often as every minute.

 

 

WP-3D - "Orion"

The versatile turboprop aircraft is equipped with a variety of scientific instrumentation, radars, and recording systems for both in-situ and remote sensing measurements of the atmosphere, the earth, and its’ environment. Orion aircraft collects low-altitude data to fill gaps in data not available from ground-based radar or satellite imagery.

   

Other 

There will be a variety of other vehicles displayed during this event:

  • USCG Helicopter 
  • USCG Flood Boat
  • Port of Houston Emergency Vehicle
  • USAA Command Vehicle 

Schedule

Time (CDT)

Event

12:30 - 4:00 PM Public Tours
3:00 PM GATES CLOSE TO NEW ENTRIES
4:00 PM End of Event

 

 


Directions & Parking

 

The address of this event is: 11210 Blume Ave, Houston, TX 77034.

 

 

The Primary Parking Location will be in front of the TSU Flight Offices as seen in the image below.
We will have signs directing you where to go as you get near.

 

 

Route: I-45 Southbound

 

Route: I-45 Northbound

 

 

 


Participants

 

List of Booths:

  • NWS Houston/Galveston

  • Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

  • Harris County Flood Control District

  • CITY OF HOUSTON Office of emergency manageMENT

  • United States Army Corps of Engineers

  • USAA - UNITED SERVICES Automobile association 

  • FLASH - fEDERAL aLLIANCE FOR SAFE HOMES

  • american red cross

 


Hurricane Information and Safety

Click the image above to visit NWS' Hurricane Preparedness website.

 

 

Links:

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Houston is just one stop on the 2023 Hurricane Awareness Tour!

Check out the other locations below:

Tuesday May 2nd Wednesday May 3rd Thursday May 4th Friday May 5th