National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hurricane experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will visit
five U.S. Gulf 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 2023 Hurricane Awareness Tour is scheduled in New Orleans, Louisiana.

 


Event Information


What: 2023 Hurricane Awareness Tour

Where: New Orleans Lakefront Airport

                 6001 Stars & Stripes Blvd.,

                 New Orleans, LA 70126

When: Tuesday May 2, 2023 FROM 130-330 PM

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 weather reconnaissance missions. This plane is configured to penetrate tropical disturbances and storms, hurricanes and winter storms and obtains data on the movement, size and intensity of these systems. The WC-130J is the weather data collection platform for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron. It carries a minimal 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.


Schedule

  • 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM       Student Aircraft Tours 
  • 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM         Public Tours

Directions & Parking

 

From I-10 Eastbound: 

Exit at Downman Rd (Exit 240A)

Follow Downman Rd. to  Stars and Stripes Blvd. 

Turn right onto Stars and Stripes Blvd.

Follow Stars and Stripes Blvd. to Lakefront Airport parking area

Turn left into Lakefront Airport parking area

From I-10 Westbound:

Exit at Morrison Rd. (Exit 241)

Follow Morrison Rd. to Downman Rd.

Turn right onto Downman Rd. 

Follow Downman Rd. to  Stars and Stripes Blvd. 

Turn right onto Stars and Stripes Blvd.

Follow Stars and Stripes Blvd. to Lakefront Airport parking area

Turn left into Lakefront Airport parking area


Participants

 

List of NOAA/NWS People: National Hurricane Center meteorologists, USAF hurricane hunter crew members, NOAA aircraft crew members, National Weather Service Meteorologists, and staff from collaborating federal, state, and local government agencies will be on hand to educate residents of vulnerable communities about hurricane preparedness, and will be available for media interviews. 

 

List of Partners:  United States Coast Guard, American Red Cross, NOLA Ready, Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, NOAA Office of Response and Recovery, and NASA Stennis Space Center

 


Hurricane Information and Safety

 

 

 

 

 

Links:

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New Orleans is just one stop on the 2023 Hurricane Awareness Tour!

Check out the other locations by clicking the cities below:

Monday May 1st Wednesday May 3rd Thursday May 4th Friday May 5th