Louisiana
Louisiana meteorologist flies into Hurricane Milton with Hurricane Hunters
BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — On the inside, the hum of an airplane. But on the outside, Hurricane Milton violently churns right outside our window as BRProud joined the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron in the skies.
We took off from Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi to observe Milton’s power.
Lt. Col. Brad Boudreaux, who piloted the flight, explains that “Some of the data that we’re collecting, you can only collect it inside of the storm.”
As we headed south, the blue skies over Biloxi, Mississippi were soon replaced by the dark outer bands of Hurricane Milton while the crew began its work.
Before we knew it, the navigator was setting us up for the first pass into Milton’s eyewall. Turbulence then increased dramatically as the aircraft dropped near 300 feet.
Why Hurricane Milton became so intense so fast — and why more storms may do the same
Even through the rough weather, the loadmaster continued with the mission as he deployed dropsondes. These fall to the water’s surface and act like a reverse weather balloon, collecting information on temperature, dewpoint, pressure and wind speeds.
This data is checked by the weather officer before being sent to the National Hurricane Center in real time. In that first eyewall pass, a dropsonde found winds of 165 miles per hour, confirming Milton’s status as a Category 5 storm.
Boudreaux recalls, “The first time we passed through [the eyewall] was pretty rough.”
After the eyewall, we arrived in the calm eye of the storm where there is a blue sky above and a blue ocean below. The crew collected data nonstop as we continued on our flight path, heading to the eyewall once again.
Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm
With each pass, the navigator plotted a path through the eyewall for the pilots who have a front row seat to view the lightning that illuminates the dark. After five passes through the eye, the nine-hour flight comes to an end as we returned to base.
Boudreaux says he’s flown through many hurricanes and this one stands out. He recounts that “This is one of the stronger ones I’ve flown through. I wouldn’t say it’s the roughest. But definitely one of the strongest storms that I’ve flown through.”
The data from these flights are used to create better forecasts that are meant to help save lives by keeping you informed.
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Louisiana
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When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
A motorcyclist is recovering after a West Monroe crash involving an 18-wheeler, while Chevron won a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling shifting a major coastal lawsuit back to lower courts. Ouachita deputies arrested a suspect and recovered more than a dozen guns, Mississippi passed a new school social-media safety requirement, and Louisiana’s House advanced a unanimous state budget. A new recovery center opened, and multiple weekend events are underway across northeast Louisiana, plus national updates include stock-market stress guidance, a Ford F-150 recall, Spirit Airlines uncertainty, and tax-refund tips.
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