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AF309 0212E

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AF309 (USAF Reserve WC-130J) · 2026-09-04 15:50 – 21:49 UTC ·2 center fixes · archived observations, not a live position.

164°W162°W160°W158°W156°W12°N14°N16°N18°N20°NAircraft fix (observation), 2026-09-04 17:54 UTCAircraft fix (observation), 2026-09-04 20:12 UTCDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 17:22 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1003 mb Surface wind: 085° 32 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 17:42 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 993 mb Surface wind: 080° 61 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 17:53 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 948 mb Remark: Released in the eyewall (045°)Dropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 17:57 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 931 mb Surface wind: 165° 14 kt Remark: Released at the centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 18:13 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 954 mb Surface wind: 235° 76 kt Remark: Released in the eyewall (225°)Dropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 18:34 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 998 mb Surface wind: 295° 47 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 18:43 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1001 mb Surface wind: 295° 34 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 19:16 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1001 mb Surface wind: 210° 30 ktDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 20:12 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 957 mb Surface wind: 165° 119 kt Remark: Released in the eyewall (135°)Dropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 20:21 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 927 mb Surface wind: 210° 10 kt Remark: Released at the centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 20:26 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 946 mb Surface wind: 290° 98 kt Remark: Released in the eyewall (270°)Dropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 21:01 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1003 mb Surface wind: 020° 30 kt
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: 2026-09-04 17:22 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1003 mb Surface wind: 085° 32 kt Splash 126 nm at 033° (NE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 17:42 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 993 mb Surface wind: 080° 61 kt Splash 51 nm at 024° (NE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 17:53 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 948 mb Remark: Released in the eyewall (045°) Splash 17 nm at 002° (NE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 17:57 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 931 mb Surface wind: 165° 14 kt Remark: Released at the center Splash 1 nm at 345° (NW) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 18:13 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 954 mb Surface wind: 235° 76 kt Remark: Released in the eyewall (225°) Splash 12 nm at 172° (SE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 18:34 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 998 mb Surface wind: 295° 47 kt Splash 70 nm at 227° (SW) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 18:43 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1001 mb Surface wind: 295° 34 kt Splash 96 nm at 222° (SW) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 19:16 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1001 mb Surface wind: 210° 30 kt Splash 94 nm at 132° (SE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 20:12 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 957 mb Surface wind: 165° 119 kt Remark: Released in the eyewall (135°) Splash 15 nm at 074° (NE) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 20:21 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 927 mb Surface wind: 210° 10 kt Remark: Released at the center Splash 2 nm at 352° (NW) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 20:26 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 946 mb Surface wind: 290° 98 kt Remark: Released in the eyewall (270°) Splash 12 nm at 250° (SW) from the estimated centerDropsonde (observation) Time: 2026-09-04 21:01 UTC (splash) Surface pressure: 1003 mb Surface wind: 020° 30 kt Splash 121 nm at 292° (NW) from the estimated centerPass 1: peak 10-s flight-level wind 145 kt, 19 nm at 030° (NE) from the estimated center, 17:49 UTCPass 1: peak SFMR surface wind 127 kt, 16 nm at 032° (NE) from the estimated center, 17:50 UTCPass 2: peak 10-s flight-level wind 43 kt, 9 nm at 344° (NW) from the estimated center, 17:58 UTCPass 2: peak SFMR surface wind 28 kt, 9 nm at 357° (NW) from the estimated center, 17:58 UTCPass 3: peak 10-s flight-level wind 131 kt, 13 nm at 207° (SW) from the estimated center, 18:10 UTCPass 3: peak SFMR surface wind 133 kt, 11 nm at 206° (SW) from the estimated center, 18:10 UTCPass 4: peak 10-s flight-level wind 142 kt, 15 nm at 285° (NW) from the estimated center, 20:23 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. Shading: a rapid-intensification episode.

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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