Hurricane Melissa has reached Category 5, the highest hurricane classification, as it made landfall on the coast of Jamaica.
The Caribbean island is bracing for destructive winds of up to 300 km/h, heavy rains, flooding and landslides. Several towns have already been evacuated.
Melissa is considered one of the most dangerous hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. The strong winds of 300 kilometers per hour are considered extremely dangerous and life-threatening for hundreds of thousands of residents.
Yesterday, a US Air Force plane managed to penetrate what is considered the eye of the hurricane, and the views are both frightening and stunning.
A thread of videos from today's flight into Hurricane Melissa
— Tropical Cowboy of Danger (@FlynonymousWX) October 27, 2025
In this first one we are entering from the southeast just after sunrise and the bright arc on the far northwest eye wall is the light just beginning to make it over the top from behind us. pic.twitter.com/qGdpp7lbCN
Second pass through Hurricane Melissa entering from the southwest side. Passed NOAA in the eye wall as they headed outbound for home.
— Tropical Cowboy of Danger (@FlynonymousWX) October 27, 2025
Obviously a very powerful storm but a relatively straightforward one on this flight. Much less nasty meso activity than 36 hours ago. pic.twitter.com/uNICbQ4j9r
Third pass through Melissa. GoPro in side window as different camera looking forward shooting in ultra high res 8k. Not sure when that might get processed as the file turned out ridiculous. Barely had HD space for it and MacBook Pro promptly chocked when I tried to edit it pic.twitter.com/3p430gPvZv
— Tropical Cowboy of Danger (@FlynonymousWX) October 27, 2025
Photograph from the meteorological services aircraft:

