Hurricane Melissa: Shocking viral video gives a peek into the eye of the devastating storm

Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms to hit the Caribbean in decades, has caused catastrophic destruction as it barreled across Jamaica, Cuba, and later the Bahamas.Amid the devastation caused by its fierce winds and non-stop rains, several videos went viral on social media that claim to show inside the eye of the hurricane as it made landfall on Jamaica’s western shores.

Are videos real or fake

While several videos hovered across social media platforms, people wondered if these videos were even real. These videos came from the U.S. Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, famously known as the “Hurricane Hunters,” who fly specialised WC-130J aircraft directly into hurricanes to collect critical atmospheric data.

Their footage is absolutely real, and reveals the eerie calm and surreal beauty of the hurricane’s eye contrasted against the storm’s surrounding fury.

What do the videos show

The videos shared on social media show the stillness inside this eye, framed by swirling, violent eyewalls. These stunning visuals are a crucial part of the meteorological mission to better understand the storm and provide early warning information to affected regions.

In interviews with the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the Air Force squadron described the eye as “well-defined” and about 10 nautical miles wide.

Despite their expertise, the “Hurricane Hunters” encountered unexpectedly severe turbulence during multiple flights into Melissa.

The Hurricane hunters had to abort their mission

On October 28, they had to abort a mission after facing forces “stronger than normal” that necessitated aircraft safety inspections before continuing operations.According to an Air Force and Space magazine report, although it’s not clear if the WC-130 aircraft was damaged, standard safety procedures require a thorough inspection before it can resume operations. Similarly, NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters also cut their flights short in recent days due to heavy turbulence. Before having to return early, the Air Force crews captured stunning videos and images inside the eye of the storm, with more missions planned soon.

This turbulent experience also gave details about the extreme conditions of Melissa, even for highly trained crews accustomed to dangerous storm environments. Still, the squadron’s earlier flights successfully captured invaluable real-time data and impressive footage within the storm’s eye, enhancing forecasts and aiding disaster preparedness

Hurricane Melissa caused wreaked havoc in the Caribbean

Melissa’s impact on Jamaica was catastrophic, with heavy rains causing widespread flooding, uprooted trees, and power outages that left most of the island without electricity.

According to reports from the BBC, towns such as Black River and Mandeville suffered severe damage, with roads turned into mudslides and many homes destroyed or damaged. The storm continued to wreak havoc as it moved toward eastern Cuba and the Bahamas, causing substantial evacuations and storm surge warnings in vulnerable coastal areas.

Risk still looms!

According to an AP report, the National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for several Cuban provinces, including Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, Holguin, and Las Tunas.The southeastern and central Bahamas, as well as Bermuda, are also under warnings. People in these areas have been advised to stay indoors and take proper shelter. Additionally, flash flooding and landslides are expected in Hispaniola—the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The center also warned of a possible storm surge between 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 meters) in the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday, urging residents to remain cautious and prepared.