Hurricane Sam Drone Video Captures Terrifying Moments Right From Its Insides
Image via ID 140342494 © Mariusz Burcz | Dreamstime.com
Hurricane Sam, a category-four storm, swept over the Atlantic Ocean in the last several days. Thankfully, it avoided land on its route, not causing damage to people or property, as per AccuWeather.
The cyclone’s longevity allowed meteorologists and chasers to get up and close with Sam, even sending a sail drone into the storm’s eye.
Now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has unveiled the first images and footage captured. Naturally, the scenes are terrifying, as huge gusts of wind at over 120 mph and waves of up to 50 feet swirled around the drone.
According to Engadget, the NOAA positioned the Saildrone Explorer SD 1045 in Hurricane Sam’s path, allowing it to film the storm from a never-seen-before perspective—right from the inside.
In order to keep it from getting swept away, the drone was fitted with a special “hurricane wing.” It was part of a team of five sail drones that coast the Atlantic Ocean during hurricane season, helping to record data and deeper insights into such storms. Researchers hope these findings can help improve future forecasts.
“Using data collection by sail drones, we expect to improve forecast models that predict rapid intensification of hurricanes,” said Greg Foltz, a scientist at NOAA.
“Rapid intensification, when hurricane winds strengthen in a matter of hours, is a serious threat to coastal communities. New data from saildrones and other uncrewed systems that NOAA is using will help us better predict the forces that drive hurricanes and be able to warn communities earlier,” he explained in a statement.
Curious to see what a hurricane looks like from the eye of the storm? Take a look at the incredible videos below.
[via Engadget, cover image via ID 140342494 © Mariusz Burcz | Dreamstime.com]
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