NOAA honors hurricane hunter by releasing his ashes into the eye of Hurricane Milton

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Peter Dodge, an award-winning scientist who dedicated his life to studying hurricanes, was honored in a unique way, according to a report by the Associated Press. On Tuesday, a NOAA crew released his ashes into the eye of Hurricane Milton. Dodge had spent decades flying into storms to advance meteorological research, with this final mission marking his 387th — and last — flight into a hurricane.

"It’s very touching," said Dodge’s sister, Shelley Dodge, in an interview with the Associated Press. "We knew it was a goal of NOAA to make it happen."

Dodge passed away in March 2023 at the age of 72 from complications following a fall and stroke. Over his 44-year career at NOAA, he made significant contributions to radar technology, helping scientists better understand hurricanes like Katrina. His ashes were released just hours before Hurricane Milton made landfall near Sarasota, Florida.

In this NASA handout, Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm at the time of this photograph, is pictured in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Yucatan Peninsula on October 8, 2024 seen from the International Space Station as it orbited 257 miles above

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Peter Dodge’s legacy in hurricane research

Dodge was no stranger to the dangers of flying into hurricanes. One of his most harrowing experiences came during a flight into Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Severe turbulence shook the plane, and one of the engines caught fire. "They almost didn’t get out of the eye," recalled Shelley Dodge. After dumping excess fuel and heavy equipment, the crew managed to escape the storm with no injuries.

Despite the risks, Dodge was passionate about his work, amassing nearly 400 flights into hurricanes over his career. His expertise in radar technology played a pivotal role in hurricane forecasting and research.

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More than 3 million people lost power and 150 tornado warnings were issued as Hurricane Milton hit Florida on Wednesday night. As daylight broke, communities got to see the extent of the damage left behind by Hurricane Milton.

As Dodge's sister described, "He’s loved that aspect of his job. It’s bittersweet. On one hand, a hurricane’s coming and you don’t want that for people. But on the other hand, I really wanted this to happen."

The final tribute: A mission into Hurricane Milton

NOAA had been in communication with Dodge's family for months, ensuring that his final mission would happen when conditions were right. On the evening of October 8, everything aligned, and his ashes were released into the eye of the storm.

"I didn’t know for sure until they sent me the official printout that showed exactly where it happened in the eye," said Shelley. Dodge's ashes were contained in a package, draped with the flag of Nepal, a country where he had volunteered in the Peace Corps before becoming a meteorologist.