New video from a crew member aboard a U.S. Air Force WC-130J “Hurricane Hunter” shared via X shows the aircraft slicing through the eye of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which is now striking Jamaica with catastrophic winds and flooding. These flights gather real-time meteorological data for the National Hurricane Center.

Melissa’s near-perfect eye features winds exceeding 180 mph and a central pressure of 892 millibars, making it one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record, according to CNN.

The storm arrived to southern Jamaica Tuesday morning with sustained winds up to 185 mph and torrential rainfall exceeding 30 inches in some regions. Storm surges were as high as 13 feet. Jamaica’s climate minister called the risk of flooding “extreme,” as more than 800 shelters opened nat

See Full Page