U.S. Air Force to help measure Hurricane Erin

(NBC, KYMA/KECY) - U.S. Air Force personnel are helping weather officials measure Hurricane Erin.

Footage filmed by the Air Force showed the personnel onboard an Air Force Reserve WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft, assigned to the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, dropping ocean buoys ahead of Hurricane Erin.

The Defense Department said the squadron, known as the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, is working with the U.S.

Navy and partner agencies to collect real-time data on waves, currents, and atmospheric turbulence to improve understanding of how tropical cyclones form and intensify.

The Defense Department said the personnel also visually examined the surface of the water and sent the data to NOAA, the National Weather Service, and the National Hurricane Center to improve forecasts.

Forecasters expect the center hurricane erin to remain far offshore, but the outer edges of the monster storm are likely to bring high winds, large swells and life-threatening rip currents.

The biggest swells along the East Coast could come as early as later Wednesday.

Authorities are prohibiting people from swimming in beaches in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and Delaware.

Rip-current warnings, closed beaches and in some cases already treacherous waves can be found from Florida to New England.