Ryan Smithies

USAF Hurricane Hunter Pilot | Airline Pilot | Florida State Meteorology Alum | Gulf Coast Native | Minnesota Transplant

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

From our flight last night!

[Hurricane Hunters @53rdWRS]

Last night, the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s Hurricane Hunters flew through Hurricane Kiko near Hawaii.

The radar captured stunning views of the storm’s structure, while crews gathered data to improve forecasts that help protect lives and property across the Pacific.

#HurricaneHunters #Kiko #NOAA #HurricaneSeason #ReserveReady

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

It’s been a minute, but I’m back in the game this week! We’re in Hawaii for Hurricane Kiko - Flight 1 tonight.

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

@danncianca Thanks Dann, likewise! Glad to read you guys are headed closer to family. All good here! Still weather recon with AF and been at Delta for a few years now. Settled in Minnesota!

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

Week in the life of a @53rdWRS crew member. 3 missions into Francine - over 25 hours of flight time in 3 days, spanning roughly 7,500 miles of recon track across the western Gulf of Mexico.

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

Teal 71. Full house onboard today with 9 crew working hard. We’re re-positioned out of San Antonio and ready to go for the landfall mission in Francine!

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

After landing at 6am Mon from our PTC 6 survey mission, I’m back at it with a quick turnaround to Teal 72. We’re ready to go and headed to Francine! Do we have a hurricane yet? We’ll see.

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

St Anthony Falls on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis is flowing fast and furious with all this rain. @TWCChrisBruin @JacquiJerasTV

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

@MaxTsaparis @FSUWeather @FloridaState @53rdWRS Thanks Max! Miss you buddy.

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

Big time hail from 30 floors above downtown Minneapolis! Half dollar-size give or take. @TWCChrisBruin @NWSTwinCities

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

Headed our way! @TWCChrisBruin Downtown MSP, looking northwest.

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

A few years in, and I’m still getting used to Minnesota living. Thunderstorms to near blizzard conditions in about 6 hours last night! April fools joke’s on us.

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

@JeremyDeHart53d Can confirm, I earned another penny tonight in Minneapolis!

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

A nice finish to our 10hr flight over the Pacific in support of Atmospheric River reconnaissance missions. Just a few weeks left for our winter storm season. @53rdWRS

[Allison Chinchar @AllisonChinchar]

It's a star... it's a box... no it's the pattern of a plane flying through a #hurricane!

Thanks to @JeremyDeHart53d and @TheAstroNick for the insight into their challenging, but crucial jobs.

https://t.co/tfTF87ZcHk

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

@GBlack22wx @HH_KCarpenter How was the ride relative to our Laura landfall flight?

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

@mmcclellanwx @NOAA_HurrHunter @403rdWing Air Force (53d WRS), not NOAA. They are in Lakeland, FL.

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

The conga line of Keesler C-130s begins as the 403d WG evacuates our airplanes for the 5th time in a year (while simultaneously supporting missions into Ida and Nora). An added complexity that doesn't help the already high season tempo - unfortunately it's become routine.

[Ryan Smithies @RyanSmithies]

@FlynonymousWX Haha, clearly hadn’t finished my coffee yet. Both are ~50mi away now. LIX *will be ~90mi away after this move.

[WFLA NEWS @WFLA]

'One of the bumpier rides': Hurricane Hunter breaks down Hurricane Elsa | @WFLAian reports https://t.co/XtVFFPyD2v