We flew our first mission on TD #01 on June 9th. Even though we're known as the "Hurricane Hunters", we start flying these tropical systems long before they become a hurricane or even get a name. A Tropical Cyclone is a tropical disturbance that has winds blowing in a counter-clockwise circle; a Tropical Depression is a tropical cyclone with winds below 39 mph.

This cyclone formed in the Bay of Campeche in the southern Gulf of Mexico on June 7th. Its development was inhibited by westerly shear. Our mission confirmed the system had degenerated into a broad area of low pressure without a definite center of circulation. It did bring some much needed rain to Texas, so sometimes these tropical systems do have a beneficial side!