(NewsNation) — The U.S. Air Force’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” captured stunning footage from inside the eye of Hurricane Melissa as the storm brewed over the Caribbean Sea on Monday.
The squadron made multiple passes through the storm to collect weather data for the National Hurricane Center, documenting “Melissa’s looming walls encircling its compacted eye,” according to Global News.
The Category 5 storm made landfall in Jamaica today, and catastrophic flash flooding, landslides and destructive winds are expected across the island, according to the NHC.
“Total structure failure is possible near the path of Melissa’s center. Along the southern coast, life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected through the day. Failure to act may result in serious injury or loss of life,” the NHC warned Tuesday morning, as reported by The Weather Channel.
Melissa is forecast to be the worst storm in Jamaica’s history, the strongest of the year and one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever.
Melissa has already seen catastrophic levels of sustained winds up to 185 mph, resulting in seven deaths so far: three in Jamaica during preparation for the storm, three in Haiti and one in the Dominican Republic, as reported by CNN.
Forecasters predict the storm will reach eastern Cuba late Tuesday or early Wednesday, then continue toward the southeast Bahamas.
What is the role of Hurricane Hunters?
The Hurricane Hunters intercept tropical storms, locate their centers and provide crucial meteorological information to enhance the accuracy of hurricane forecasts, as previously reported by NewsNation.
The Hunters wrote on social media Tuesday that they were forced to turn back from another mission into the eye of Melissa due to “heavy turbulence.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
