‘Hurricane Hunters’ who flew into eye of Melissa had to turn back due to turbulence, NOAA says

(NEW YORK) — The U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” were forced to turn back at one point due to heavy turbulence after flying into the eye of Hurricane Melissa on Monday.

The “Hurricane Hunters” were collecting data for the National Hurricane Center when they “left the storm early” after experiencing severe turbulence, the NHC said.

Despite being forced to return once, the Air Force shared jaw-dropping video as the “Hurricane Hunters” flew into the eye of the storm multiple times over the course of the day Monday.

Melissa has a “well-defined” 10 nautical mile wide eye, according to the NHC.

The storm is expected to hit Jamaica on Tuesday and is forecast to be the worst storm in the island’s history. 

The storm, which has near-record-breaking winds of 185 mph on Tuesday morning, is now moving at 9 mph as it approaches the western part of the island. 

Melissa is expected to bring catastrophic winds, rain, flooding and storm surge.

Melissa is then forecast to cross eastern Cuba on Tuesday night or early Wednesday, and then move near or over the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos on Wednesday, according to the NHC. The hurricane could reach the vicinity of Bermuda on Thursday night.