STORM2K

So the models have been hinting at the first real snow storm of the year for the upper midwest for early next week. Then I noticed that the NOAA guys will be flying into the system that is currently over the Central Pacific that the models are developing into this storm.

II. PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. FLIGHT ONE -- NOAA49 --
A. P55/ DROP 9 (45.0N 157.0W)/ 23/0000Z
B. NOAA9 23WSC TRACK55
C. 22/1930Z
D. 17 DROPS AS PUBLISHED ON TRACK
E. 41,000 TO 45,000 FT/ 23/0600Z

Is this normal? I've never noticed them doing this before. We all know they fly into nor'easters but mid-latitude systems over the pacific? Is this a research project?

It is normal for them to fly into winter storms off of both coasts...reason being, it helps the models because it gives them more data to better predict what is going to happen.

I realize the above post pertains to a "NOAA" bird, but feel that it helps explain things

From HurricaneHunters.com:

Winter Storm Mission:

So, what do we do in the winter? The 53rd WRS also collects data for winter storms which has proven to be very valuable to the National Weather Service. The goal is to release the dropsonde as high as possible in the atmosphere and ahead of the storm extending the network of weather data over the water. This data drastically increases the accuracy of computer weather forecasts for nor’easters and pacific winter low pressure systems. The Hurricane Hunters use the month of February to fly Pacific storms from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska or Hickam AFB, Hawaii.