A meteorologist’s final wish came true as his ashes were scattered into Hurricane Milton, fulfilling his lifelong passion for storms.
Recently, a touching tribute took place during Hurricane Milton, a powerful storm affecting Florida.
The ashes of a dedicated meteorologist, Peter Dodge, were dropped into the eye of the hurricane by a team of researchers.
This act was meant to honor his life and fulfill one of his dreams.
Who is Peter Dodge?
Peter Dodge was a well-respected meteorologist who spent 44 years working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
He was known for his passion for weather research and storm chasing. Sadly, Peter passed away last year at the age of 72.
His colleagues wanted to find a special way to remember him.
They decided that scattering his ashes during a hurricane mission would be fitting.
Meteorologist’s dream fulfilled as his ashes scattered into Hurricane Milton by plane
On October 8, 2024, the NOAA Hurricane Hunters were flying into Hurricane Milton to gather vital data.
As they flew about 300 miles southwest of Florida, they reached the eye of the storm.
It was at this moment that they scattered Peter’s ashes from the plane.
This act was not just a farewell; it was a celebration of his adventurous spirit and love for the field of meteorology.
Shirley Murillo, the deputy director of NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division, spoke about the decision to honor Peter in this way.
She mentioned that he had a deep passion for participating in field activities and was always curious about research.
“Peter truly had an unyielding passion for participating in field activities, including flying, and an insatiable curiosity for research.”
“By releasing his ashes into Hurricane Milton, we sought to honor his memory and his spirit of teamwork, adventure, and curiosity,” she said.
Peter’s sister, Shelley Dodge, expressed her gratitude for the tribute.
She felt that taking Peter’s ashes into the storm was a beautiful way to recognize his lifelong dream of flying in a hurricane.
She said, “They honored him because he always wanted to go back up in the plane.”
This heartfelt tribute meant a lot to Peter’s family and friends.
During the mission, the researchers were not just honoring Peter; they were also collecting important information about Hurricane Milton.
This data helps the National Hurricane Center and other forecasters understand the storm better and provide timely warnings to the public.
Peter Dodge’s contributions to meteorology were significant.
Throughout his career, he received several awards for his service, including the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal and the NOAA Administrator Awards.
His work in hurricane research made a real difference in understanding and predicting storm behavior.
Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm but later weakened to a Category 1.
The storm caused significant damage as it moved across Florida, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.
The hurricane caused the deaths of at least ten people, and many homes lost power.
The NOAA team played a crucial role in monitoring the storm and ensuring that accurate information was available to help keep people safe.