2026 Hurricane Awareness Tour makes a stop on the Gulf Coast

MOBILE, AL (WXXV)-The 2026 Hurricane Awareness Tour made a stop on the Gulf Coast Tuesday at the Mobile International Airport.

Meteorologist Sam Lucey and Forecaster Brynne Baxley breakdown this year’s tour and its mission.

On Tuesday, the 2026 Hurricane Awareness Tour made a stop in Mobile, promoting preparation and staying safe this hurricane season. National Hurricane Center Warning Coordination Meteorologist Robbie Berg said, “The Hurricane Awareness Tour is a yearly annual event that we do. We usually alternate between the Gulf Coast and the east coast of the United States. And just to bring the planes to the public so they can see them, see them first hand see what they do, and we can talk about hurricane preparedness for the upcoming season.”

National Hurricane Center specialists are the ones that issue tropical outlooks, watches, and warnings.

Also at the tour were NOAA Hurricane Hunters and the Air Force Hurricane Hunters, who gather data that is used for forecasting.

Nick Underwood works with NOAA and says why early awareness matters. “And the goal is to show the public the aircraft, show and talk about what we do. Flying into hurricanes, collecting scientific data, all to improve the forecast so folks can know when a storm is coming your way, how strong it’s going to be, and they can prepare themselves and their community.”

Hurricane experts say now is the best time to get ready, even if it means checking things off your list this week. “Now is the best time to get ready. I know for myself when there’s a storm threat where I live, my stress levels go up because a lot of these you have to think ‘I have to go to work, so I don’t have time to prepare.’ I like to do it now, not everything, but at least some of the things like picking up extra cans of food, just so I have it now, and don’t have to think about it when a storm threatens.”

Coming up later this month, experts break down the real dangers of tropical systems and what you need to know to stay safe this hurricane season here in South Mississippi.

Don’t miss our Storm Ready Hurricane Special, powered by Mississippi Power.