Charleston, SC

Weather Forecast Office

2024 Hurricane Awareness Tour - Charleston, SC

graphic of 2024 Hurricane Awareness Tour in Charleston

National Weather Service logo

2024

Hurricane Awareness Tour

Charleston, SC

Hurricane Hunter logo

This is Not a Public Event

Hurricane experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will visit five U.S. East Coast locations, flying aboard a USAF Reserve WC-130J hurricane hunter aircraft and a NOAA WP-3D Orion aircraft, to raise awareness of the impacts from tropical cyclones threats and the danger of being caught without a personal hurricane plan. The 2024 Hurricane Awareness Tour is scheduled to stop in Charleston, South Carolina.

Event Information

What: 2024 Hurricane Awareness Tour

Where: Charleston International Airport

When: Thursday, May 9, 2024

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.

photo of WP-3D - "Orion"

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.

Schedule

9:00 AM – 9:30 AM	Media Briefing
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM	Media Aircraft Tour
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM	Scheduled Media Interview
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM	VIP Aircraft Tours
10:00 AM – 1:30 PM	Student Aircraft Tours
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM	Partner Tours

Directions & Parking

Click the icons on the map to display the event details at the Charleston International Airport.

Map Legend

	Emergency Shelter
	Bus Staging / VIP Parking
	Media Parking
	Hurricane Hunter Aircraft
	Student Pick up / Drop off
	Student Briefing Area
	Static Displays & Booths
______	School Bus Route

Driving Directions

Enter this Plus Code into your navigation app: VXJ4+GQ6

From International Blvd, take a left onto Porsche Blvd at the traffic light and continue straight.
Proceed through the gate and take a right at the end of the road.
Students will be dropped off just past the entry gate on the tarmac.

Parking for Buses

Once students have been dropped off, buses will proceed through cargo area and to the “Bus Staging/VIP Parking” lot.
Staff members will be in the staging lot to notify buses when your group is ready for pick-up (roughly 2 hours after drop off).
Note: bus drivers are welcome to tour the aircraft with the school groups.

Parking for Media

Parking lot address: 3400 Air Cargo Lane, North Charleston, SC 29418

From International Blvd, take a left onto Porsche Blvd at the traffic light and continue straight.
Drive 0.3 mile, then turn right onto Air Cargo Lane
Travel on Air Cargo Lane, after the left-hand bend in the road, take the second right and park in front of the Cargo Building.

Participants

List of Booths and Displays:

Charleston County Mobile Command Center
Charleston County Aviation Authority Police Department K9s
Dorchester County Mobile Command Center
FLASH (Federal Alliance for Safe Homes)
Joint Base Charleston Fire Truck
National Weather Service Charleston
South Carolina Emergency Management Division
South Carolina State Climatology Office

Hurricane Information and Safety

2024 National Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 5-11, 2024

Be ready for hurricane season. Take action TODAY to be better prepared for when the worst happens. Understand your risk from hurricanes, and begin pre-season preparations now. Make sure you understand how to interpret forecasts and alerts, and know what to do before, during, and after a storm.

Know Your Risk: Water & Wind

Prepare Before Hurricane Season

Understand Forecast Information

Get Moving When a Storm Threatens

Stay Protected During Storms

Use Caution After Storms

Take Action Today