'Hurricane Hunters' have been flying in and out of Dorian - here's what they've seen inside this powerful storm
US reconnaissance and weather monitoring aircraft with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been making regular flights through Dorian this past week, providing vital information about the hurricane.
NOAA's hurricane hunting missions are supported by two WP-3D Orions, as well as Air Force WC-130J aircraft. NOAA has several other aircraft capable of providing assistance, but there are only a handful of planes that can handle flying into the storm.
The crews make multiple passes through the storm, with the tough missions often lasting hours. They gather important information on the storm's speed, direction, and wind patterns.
A team of "Hurricane Hunters" with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron with the 403rd Reserve Wing recently captured some wild photos from inside Dorian, including some of a lighting storm.
Here's another shot of the lightning storm.
Crew members who participated in some of the recent flights have also posted some shocking images and videos of Dorian. The "stadium effect," something that occurs with particularly strong hurricanes, can be seen clearly in this photo from one "Hurricane Hunter."
While Hurricane Dorian is not as strong as it was, it is still considered a very dangerous storm. The National Hurricane Center, a division of NOAA, sent out a notification Tuesday morning explaining that the storm may actually be getting worse given its growing size.
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