Post by : Rameen Ariff

In a daring and extraordinary mission, the US Air Force’s elite Hurricane Hunters flew directly into the eye of Hurricane Melissa, the strongest and most destructive storm of 2025. The breathtaking footage, captured from inside the swirling system, shows the immense power and scale of Hurricane Melissa as it moves toward Jamaica with devastating force.

The US Air Force Hurricane Hunters conducted the flight to gather critical meteorological data for the US National Hurricane Center, helping scientists better predict the storm’s path and intensity. Entering the eye from the southeast just after sunrise, the aircraft passed through dense grey clouds before breaking into the calm center of Hurricane Melissa. Inside, sunlight pierced through the towering eye wall, creating a surreal view known as the “stadium effect,” where the hurricane’s walls curve outward like a massive arena.

The Hurricane Hunters shared dramatic footage on X (formerly Twitter), describing the experience as both awe-inspiring and terrifying. “We are entering from the southeast just after sunrise, and the bright arc on the far northwest eye wall is the light just beginning to make it over the top,” the team wrote. The video shows flashes of lightning illuminating the eye wall, while below, the churning sea surface displayed waves colliding in multiple directions—evidence of the storm’s chaotic strength.

According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Melissa has already made history as the most powerful storm ever to strike Jamaica since records began in 1851. With wind speeds reaching 282 kmph and storm surges expected to exceed 13 feet, Hurricane Melissa poses a catastrophic threat to life and property. Rainfall levels could surpass 40 inches in some areas, triggering landslides, floods, and widespread power outages.

Jamaica has declared a state of emergency, opening more than 800 shelters and ordering mass evacuations in coastal and low-lying regions. By Monday night, over 50,000 homes were without electricity, and the death toll across the Caribbean had already risen to seven, including casualties in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Officials fear that number could rise as Hurricane Melissa moves inland.

Meteorologists warn that Hurricane Melissa may intensify further before it weakens. Moving slowly at about 6–8 kmph, the storm’s slow pace increases the risk of prolonged rainfall and destruction. Scientists have called Hurricane Melissa a “once-in-a-century” weather event, underscoring the growing intensity of tropical systems in recent years.

As the world watches, Hurricane Melissa continues to test the resilience of the Caribbean and the preparedness of global climate response systems. The mission by the US Air Force Hurricane Hunters stands as a reminder of the courage and science working hand in hand to understand nature’s fiercest forces.

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