SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Hurricane Melissa is currently a very strong storm with a clear, round center (called an eye) about 11.5 miles wide, surrounded by incredibly powerful thunderstorms. Radar from Jamaica suggests that a new, larger ring of storms might be forming around the eye. This often happens when very powerful hurricanes temporarily weaken before getting strong again.

Planes flying into the hurricane (Hurricane Hunters) have found that the pressure inside the eye has dropped, which confirms that Melissa has gotten even stronger. They also measured winds near 175 mph, meaning Melissa is an exceptionally dangerous hurricane right now. Conditions in Jamaica are quickly getting worse, with heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds already affecting the island. More Hurricane Hunter pl

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