What storm chasers saw inside eye of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa: Watch

A US Air Force Reserve crew known as the “Hurricane Hunters" flew into Hurricane Melissa as it was intensified and strengthened into a rare Category 5.

The rapid intensification is characterized by the gusty winds with the speed of 175 mph, making it the strongest storm of 2025 on the planet.

Storm chasers entered the catastrophic eye of Melissa to gather data for the National Hurricane Center.

A Hurricane Hunter flight aboard the WP-3D Orion aircraft experienced severe turbulence upon entering the eye of Hurricane Melissa.

The crew faced wind speeds of 165 mph in the northeastern eyewall, which is considered the strongest speed of any Atlantic Hurricane so far this year. The extreme turbulence was caused by an intense downdraft, characterized by the rapid current of air with deadly descent.

After the severe turbulence, the mission was ended as an “abundance of caution” and the crew returned safely.

Owing to Category 5 storm, Jamaica is bracing for catastrophic impacts since 1988 with heavy landfall and high speed wind gusts.