has already begun wreaking havoc across Florida, with forecasters likening it to the worst seen since Katrina.
But in the chaos of the storm, one man regularly does what most of us would never dream of - he flies straight into them. Chief Master Sergeant Jay Latham, a 54-year-old Hunter, has spent the last 30 years soaring through the most extreme on the planet, gathering life-saving data from inside the chaos.
Latham, who works as the Chief Weather Loadmaster for the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, is no stranger to danger. "Flying into hurricanes for a living is a dream job for me," Latham told Express.co.uk.
"It's incredibly exciting and rewarding. I find it very thrilling at times, especially in the bigger storms." With Hurricane Milton currently pounding Florida's shores, Latham and his team have been on high alert, ensuring the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Florida gets the critical data they need to forecast the storm's path.
The Hurricane Hunters work hand-in-hand with the NHC, providing real-time data that forecasters desperately need.
He explained: "We work closely with the National Hurricane Center located in Homestead, Florida. They are the lead agency on hurricane information and forecasting in the USA.
"They task us to fly into any tropical weather they deem significant and that might have the potential to evolve into a hurricane. Our areas of operation are the Western Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern Pacific to include Hawaii."
Latham's job involves dropping packages called dropsondes into the very heart of the storm, collecting crucial information on wind speed, temperature, and pressure.
"My specific job inside the hurricane entails launching small packages (dropsondes) that gather meteorological data as it falls inside the storm. I will drop 15-30 of these during the mission. Flights can last up to 12 hours. We typically fly hurricanes at 10,000 feet (3050 meters)," he added.
But this isn't just a job-it's a life-or-death mission. "We deal with high winds, heavy rain, hail, lightning, and of course, turbulence," he says, as if flying into a deadly storm is just another day at the office. But the danger is very real. Latham recalls some of the most heart-pounding moments of his career.
"Wildest thing I've seen in a storm? I've been into a storm where we got struck by lightning and the intense hail stripped the paint right off the front sections of the aircraft. Our maintenance teams do a superb job providing us with safe aircraft."
Despite the risks, Latham is crystal clear about why he does what he does: "We know what's at stake here. If we don't fly into the storm and collect the data, then the NHC forecasters cannot issue their forecast with the degree of accuracy they need. So we mitigate the threats, buckle up, and go."
How does he cope with the nerve-wracking intensity? Latham's got his own trick for burning off some of that nervous energy mid-flight.
"I do push-ups on the aircraft in between the severe weather. Helps me burn off nervous energy. I usually talk other crew members into joining me," he laughs, showcasing the camaraderie that comes with battling nature's wrath together.
Hurricanes aren't just storms - they're personal for Latham. One of the most unforgettable was Hurricane Katrina, a storm that changed the face of the Gulf Coast forever.
"I have a few storms that really stick out for me. Hurricane Katrina is at the top of my list. I flew into her twice before she came ashore in southern Mississippi, devastating the entire Gulf Coast and causing massive flooding in New Orleans. Our base was damaged and closed to us for months after that. We had to all relocate to continue flying the storms that followed," he recalled, visibly moved by the memory.
"I was so sad to hear about the loss of life and destruction, but the people here are tough and resilient and have built back better. Very proud to call the Mississippi Gulf Coast home."
Thousands fleeing Florida following evacuation orders but it's likely many will have stayed behind. Latham offers some advice to those in its path: "I'm hoping the storm weakens before it hits Florida. The National Hurricane Center issues constant updates so the people can make the best choices for themselves based on their individual circumstances.
"Some will evacuate, others will hunker down and ride this out. I hope they are all safe. Floridians have been through this many times and they are ready. Listening to their local Emergency Management Teams is their best option."
Flying into the eye of the storm may seem insane to most, but to Latham, it's all in a day's work. The father-of-four explained: "My family understands this. I've explained to them what we do and why we do it....they get it.
"They fully support me and I'm grateful for their support. My kids are proud of what I do, I appreciate them so much."
But if there's one thing Latham's certain of, it's that he's in good hands. He said: "The entire 403d Wing does an amazing job supporting these missions, so our aircraft are safe and ready to go. I trust our maintenance team with my life, they are the best in the business."
As hurricane season continues to rage, Latham and his team of Hurricane Hunters will be up there, flying into the heart of each storm, gathering the vital data we all rely on to stay safe.
