Nearly 10,000 people gathered this Saturday at the Rafael Hernandez Airport, in Aguadillato see a hurricane hunting plane up close and to learn about the functions that the crew performs every time a tropical storm or hurricane hits.
“In a safe, familiar and free environment, thousands of people took advantage of this opportunity to see the plane, share with meteorology and scientific personnel, as well as personnel from municipalities and state and federal agencies who offered guidance on the services they offer. “, he expressed Nino Correa Filomenocommissioner of Bureau for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration (Nmead), agency that was in charge of the activity.
As explained by the meteorologist and warning coordinator of the National Weather Service (SNM), Ernesto Moraleshe WC-130J Weatherbird aircraft of the United States Air Force Reserve arrived on the island with a crew that included the director of the National Hurricane Center (CNH), Michael BrennanYet the Puerto Rican First Lieutenant Amaryllis Cotto, Houston SNM meteorologist and one of only 20 aerial weather reconnaissance officers.
“Now it is crucial that citizens put everything they have learned into practice in their emergency plans. It is essential to be prepared for the next hurricane season that is approaching,” said Morales.
For his part, the secretary of the DSP, Alexis Torreswas satisfied with the reception that the educational event had and took advantage of the occasion to urge the public to have their family plan and be prepared for the hurricane season.
“It is good to see so many families interested in learning about the work of the Hurricane Hunter and its importance, also visiting the exhibitors of all the DSP Bureaux to learn about the work of the first responders and take home prevention information for the upcoming hurricane season. , this shows that the prevention message has been effective,” said Torres.
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Aguadilla, Julio Roldán Concepciónwelcomed the thousands of people who were able to enjoy the exhibition.
“Aguadilla once again dressed up with the celebration of this event and as we had anticipated, many of the thousands of visitors delighted in the tourist and gastronomic offering that characterizes our town,” said the municipal leader.
The CNH published, on April 11, the list of names they will use for the hurricanes of the upcoming 2024 hurricane season. Colorado State University predicted an “extremely active” season, with a 66 percent probability of a Category 3 or higher hurricane makes landfall in the Caribbean.
Puerto Rican students Delián Colón Burgos and Angelie Nieves Jimenezmembers of the CSU tropical meteorology research team, stated that the April forecast – the first of four that will be released in the coming months – found that conditions exist for the formation of 23 named storms (systems with sustained winds of 39 miles per hour or more), of which 11 would be hurricanes (74 miles) and five would reach category 3 (111 miles).
If the prediction materializes, it would be a cyclonic season even more active than that of 2023, when 20 storms were recorded in the Atlantic, including seven hurricanes, three of them of major category. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, in English), The 2023 season was the fourth with the highest number of storms since there is registration.
“It is the first time that, in the month of April, we have predicted an extremely active season. We publish our reports in April, June, July and August, and It is the first time that, in April, we forecast 11 hurricanes. In 2023, we had predicted nine and it was an above-normal season. This is extremely active”said Nieves Jiménez, a second-year student in the Tropical Meteorology master's degree at CSU.