Tropical Storm Expected to Escalate into Cat 3 Hurricane

Tyndall Air Force Base is hunkering down for Tropical Storm Helene, which is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane with up to 110 mph winds. They have temporarily deployed their F-35 fleet to a new base and recommended visitor evacuation.

The base declared Hurricane Condition Level 3 on September 24. This suggests that the storm will bring a “potential threat to Tyndall with destructive winds possible within 48 hours.” Storm trackers anticipate that the hurricane will hit the Florida Panhandle on September 26.

In preparation, Tyndall AFB’s 95th Fighter Squadron transferred their F-35A Lighting II fleet to  Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Base before storm warnings arrived. A spokesperson stated that the jets “will be safe there until conditions are cleared at Tyndall.”

Tyndall’s base commander has not yet ordered the evacuation of personnel. However, he has recommended that visitors staying at the on-site RV Park, also known as “FamCamp,” evacuate in case the weather takes a turn for the worse.

The first three F-35s were delivered to the base in August 2023 as a replacement for its F-22 Raptor fleet. Tyndall is slated to become a major hub for the fighter, with a total of 78 Lightning II deliveries underway. This will be divided into three 24-jet squadrons with six jets as backup.

Tyndall AFB is in the middle of a several-year, $4.7 billion reconstruction project. The base was destroyed in 2018 after taking a direct hit from Hurricane Michael. This storm, which was later labeled as a Category 5, caused extreme damage to Tyndall’s Raptor fleet, hangars, and other facilities.

Still, the base has an exciting future ahead. It will become the Air Force’s first 21st-century “Installation of the Future” upon completion of the rebuild.

Luckily, Tyndall officials do not expect a significant setback from Helene. A spokesperson stated: “Our contracts incorporate anticipated weather delays, which is built into the schedule, so there are no progress delays.”

FMI: www.tyndall.af.mil