From left to right: Maj. Grant Wagner, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron navigator, F. Martin Ralph, principal investigator for the Atmospheric River Recon program and director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes and Lt Col. Ryan Rickert, 53rd WRS aerial weather reconnaissance officer, work on a flight plan for the next atmospheric river mission Jan. 30 at San Diego, Calif. The Hurricane Hunters are slated to perform “AR recon” from January through March. Scientists led by Scripps at University of California, in partnership with the 53rd WRS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Aviation’s National Weather Service, NOAA’s Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, will be on standby to fly through these ARs over the Pacific to gather data to improve forecasts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Christopher Carranza)