The 2026 NOAA Hurricane Awareness Tour is set to make a stop in Mobile on May 5, offering the public a rare, up-close look at the aircraft and experts used to track and forecast hurricanes.

The event will take place at Mobile International Airport, 2455 Michigan Avenue, and is part of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, observed May 3-9. The weeklong tour also includes stops in Sarasota, Florida, and Lake Charles, Louisiana, as NOAA works to highlight the importance of storm readiness ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1.

This year’s tour is notable for featuring four aircraft on display, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see the tools forecasters rely on during severe weather. The lineup includes NOAA’s Lockheed WP-3D Orion, Gulfstream IV-SP and Beechcraft King Air 350 CER, along with the U.S. Air Force Reserve WC-130J.

Attendees will be able to meet NOAA hurricane experts, scientists and flight crews while touring the aircraft used to collect critical data from storms. That information plays a key role in improving forecasts and warnings that help protect lives and property along the Gulf Coast and beyond.

Public activities begin with school group briefings and aircraft tours from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by general public tours from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Gates close to the public at 3 p.m.