Video recorded by a drone documents the conditions inside Hurricane Sam, a category 4 storm traveling across the Atlantic Ocean. The Saildrone Explorer SD 1045 is one of a fleet of five hurricane Saildrones monitoring weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean during the 2021 hurricane season.

Footage released by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Saildrone Inc. shows the uncrewed surface vehicle encountering 50 ft-high waves and winds of over 120 mph. Powered by wind and 23 ft in length, the drone features a hurricane wing designed to withstand punishing conditions as it collects data to help scientists learn more about destructive hurricane forces. The craft can record wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, temperature, salinity, humidity and more.

“Using data collected by saildrones, we expect to improve forecast models that predict rapid intensification of hurricanes,” said Greg Foltz, an NOAA scientist. “Rapid intensification, when hurricane winds strengthen in a matter of hours, is a serious threat to coastal communities. New data from saildrones and other uncrewed systems that NOAA is using will help us better predict the forces that drive hurricanes and be able to warn communities earlier.”