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AF309 0702A

This is an independent research/prototype tool, not an official source. Warnings, watches and the official forecast for this storm come from the National Hurricane Center.

AF309 (USAF Reserve WC-130J) · 2026-07-21 10:22 – 17:21 UTC ·4 center fixes · archived observations, not a live position.

90°W89°W88°W87°W86°W85°W84°W26°N27°N28°N29°N30°N31°NAircraft fix (observation), 2026-07-21 11:48 UTCAircraft fix (observation), 2026-07-21 13:11 UTCAircraft fix (observation), 2026-07-21 14:54 UTCAircraft fix (observation), 2026-07-21 16:45 UTCDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 11:50 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 996 mb Surface wind: 100° 5 kt Remark: Released at the centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 11:57 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1002 mb Surface wind: 185° 48 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 12:26 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1011 mb Surface wind: 195° 29 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 12:57 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1003 mb Surface wind: 135° 39 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 13:13 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 996 mb Surface wind: 240° 13 kt Remark: Released at the centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 13:52 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1005 mb Surface wind: 210° 32 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 14:18 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1010 mb Surface wind: 205° 31 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 14:56 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 995 mb Surface wind: 090° 16 kt Remark: Released at the centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 15:18 UTC (launch) Surface pressure: 1007 mbDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 15:58 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1006 mb Surface wind: 310° 23 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 16:47 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 996 mb Surface wind: 310° 9 kt Remark: Released at the centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 17:05 UTC (launch) Surface pressure: 1005 mb
Flight-level wind:< 34 kt34–49 kt50–63 kt64–82 kt83–95 kt96–112 kt113+ ktRinged dots: center fixes (observations). Open circles: dropsonde splash points. Dashed: best track, ±12 h around the mission.

Storm-relative view

25 nm50 nm100 nm150 nmNNESESWNWDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 11:50 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 996 mb Surface wind: 100° 5 kt Remark: Released at the center Splash 1 nm at 143° (SE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 11:57 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1002 mb Surface wind: 185° 48 kt Splash 24 nm at 133° (SE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 12:26 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1011 mb Surface wind: 195° 29 kt Splash 105 nm at 136° (SE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 12:57 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1003 mb Surface wind: 135° 39 kt Splash 50 nm at 047° (NE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 13:13 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 996 mb Surface wind: 240° 13 kt Remark: Released at the center Splash 1 nm at 102° (SE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 13:52 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1005 mb Surface wind: 210° 32 kt Splash 108 nm at 174° (SE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 14:18 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1010 mb Surface wind: 205° 31 kt Splash 113 nm at 125° (SE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 14:56 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 995 mb Surface wind: 090° 16 kt Remark: Released at the center Splash 0 nm at 072° (NE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 15:18 UTC (launch) Surface pressure: 1007 mb Splash 71 nm at 313° (NW) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 15:58 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1006 mb Surface wind: 310° 23 kt Splash 112 nm at 229° (SW) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 16:47 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 996 mb Surface wind: 310° 9 kt Remark: Released at the center Splash 9 nm at 289° (NW) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-07-21 17:05 UTC (launch) Surface pressure: 1005 mb Splash 64 nm at 353° (NW) from the estimated centerPass 1: peak 10-s flight-level wind 30 kt, 52 nm at 310° (NW) from the estimated center, 11:33 UTCPass 2: peak 10-s flight-level wind 62 kt, 24 nm at 137° (SE) from the estimated center, 11:55 UTCPass 2: peak SFMR surface wind 49 kt, 10 nm at 052° (NE) from the estimated center, 13:08 UTCPass 3: peak 10-s flight-level wind 56 kt, 58 nm at 125° (SE) from the estimated center, 14:33 UTCPass 3: peak SFMR surface wind 53 kt, 55 nm at 176° (SE) from the estimated center, 13:29 UTCPass 4: peak 10-s flight-level wind 46 kt, 17 nm at 319° (NW) from the estimated center, 14:59 UTCPass 4: peak SFMR surface wind 39 kt, 13 nm at 321° (NW) from the estimated center, 14:58 UTCPass 5: peak 10-s flight-level wind 32 kt, 7 nm at 253° (SW) from the estimated center, 16:43 UTCPass 5: peak SFMR surface wind 33 kt, 7 nm at 253° (SW) from the estimated center, 16:43 UTCPass 6: peak 10-s flight-level wind 47 kt, 62 nm at 355° (NW) from the estimated center, 17:04 UTCPass 6: peak SFMR surface wind 38 kt, 55 nm at 354° (NW) from the estimated center, 17:02 UTC
Peak 10-s flight-level wind, per passPeak SFMR surface wind, per passDropsonde splash pointEstimated centerObservations relative to the estimated storm center (best track refined by this mission’s aircraft center fixes), north up, within 150 nm; not the best track. Track colored by flight-level wind, as on the map above.

Observations along the flight

From the HDOB messages, every 30 seconds. Gaps are missing values or missing messages.

Extrapolated surface pressure and peak flight-level wind

Center fixes (observations), minimum sea-level pressure:Dropsonde-measured

SFMR surface wind and rain rate
Flight-level temperature and dewpoint
Aircraft pressure and geopotential height

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