US hurricane hunters set up in Ireland

A UNITED States “hurricane hunter” aircraft and a team of storm chasers have set up camp in Ireland.

They are using the country as their base as they undertake weather reconnaissance missions over the North Atlantic.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Lockheed WP-3D Orion, known as Kermit, arrived from Florida via Canada and will be based at Shannon Airport for the next month.

A spokesman said “Ireland was chosen because its location allows us to reach the larger winter storms in the North Atlantic.”