'Hurricane Hunter' plane deploys to Pacific Northwest as major atmospheric river takes aim at Seattle

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is sending its famed reconnaissance aircraft into a powerful storm system that threatens widespread flooding and damaging winds for Western Washington from Monday through Wednesday.

The approaching atmospheric river barreling toward Western Washington is powerful enough to warrant a rare deployment: NOAA is sending its hurricane hunter aircraft to fly directly into the storm system Monday, a dramatic step that underscores the impact of the incoming weather event.

During hurricane season, the aircraft flies into hurricanes over the East Coast and Gulf Coast to collect crucial data. Now, in the off-season, the plane is heading to the Pacific Northwest.

The specialized reconnaissance plane will crisscross the Pacific Ocean just off