Hurricanes don’t get named by the first meteorologist who spots them. Their names are chosen years in advance by an international committee, and some are never used again.

Every summer, billions of corn plants release enormous amounts of water vapor into the air. Meteorologists call it “corn sweat,” and it can actually make hot days feel even more miserable.

Why would meteorologists send an airplane straight into a storm that isn’t even officially a tropical cyclone yet? It sounds impossible, but Hurricane Hunters do it all the time. Here’s why those daring flights are one of the most important tools in hurricane forecasting.