United States - November 08, 2024 On November 8, 2024, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, popularly known as the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, embarked on a perilous mission into the heart of Hurricane Rafael. Their objective was critical: to gather essential weather data that would inform the forecasts made by the National Hurricane Center. As they navigated through the storm's unpredictable turbulence, the crew encountered a formidable challenge. The sky was lit up not by the sun, but by the continuous flashes of intense lightning within Rafael's eyewall. Based at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi under the 403rd Wing, this squadron's bravery is on full display as they fly into some of nature's most violent storms, ensuring that the public receives timely and accurate predictions about the hurricane's path and intensity.