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For first time ever, drone sent into eye of Cat. 4 hurricane

• https://www.accuweather.com, By Lauren Fox

According to Saildrone founder and CEO Richard Jenkins, the achievement will change scientists' understanding of hurricanes as we know it.

"This is an amazing victory for meteorology and will increase our knowledge of hurricanes," AccuWeather Director of Forecast Operations Dan DePodwin said of the groundbreaking mission. He was not involved with the operation.

Sam reached major hurricane strength on Saturday, Sept. 25 when it became a Category 3 storm. On Thursday, Sept. 30, the storm had still maintained major hurricane strength with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane. AccuWeather meteorologists forecast that the storm will continue to be a major hurricane into the weekend.

The first videos from the un-crewed surface vehicle, called the Saildrone Explorer SD 1045, were released on Sept. 30.

According to AccuWeather Senior Weather Editor Jesse Ferrell, NOAA scientists were able to send the saildrone straight into the eye of the storm, where they were then able to record wind gusts reaching 91 mph and waves reaching 42 feet in height.

Hurricane Sam also passed over a NOAA buoy on Wednesday night as it made its way through the Atlantic Ocean. The buoy was able to record waves almost 40 feet tall and wind gusts peaking at 98 mph.

"Buoys are hundreds of miles apart in the open ocean. That was just chance," said Ferrell. "Now imagine being able to have a mobile buoy that you can place in front, or drive into, the storm. That's what NOAA and Saildrone did today."

SD 1045 is one of five drone ships that have been gathering information on hurricanes throughout the Atlantic during the 2021 hurricane season, according to a press release from Saildrone.


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