The US Air Force Hurricane Hunters stunned the public after their planes were seen crossing the massive eye of Hurricane Melissa before it made landfall in Jamaica.
The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew a Super Hercules from one side of the storm to the other, passing directly over the massive eye of up to 10,00 feet in the air.
The other plane, a WP-3D Orion piloted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), came in soaring southwest and conducted several loops around Melissa’s edge.
The purpose of the US Air Force Hurricane Hunters is to fly into and around tropical and winter storms to collect critical real-time data on wind speed, pressure, temperature and humidity.
This data is essential for the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and other forecasters to improve hurricane and winter storm forecasts, which helps emergency managers with evacuations and warnings to protect lives and property.
The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters posted on Facebook that the Super Hercules, call sign TEAL 75, made a safe return from crossing the eye of the storm.
‘During the event, the aircraft briefly experienced forces stronger than normal due to turbulence,’ reads the post.
‘While this does not automatically indicate damage, standard safety procedures require an inspection before returning to operations.’
The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew a Super Hercules from one side of the storm to the other, passing directly over the massive eye of up to 10,00 feet in the air. The other plane was a WP-3D Orion (top)
The purpose of the US Air Force Hurricane Hunters is to fly into and around tropical and winter storms to collect critical real-time data on wind speed, pressure, temperature and humidity
Melissa struck the west coast of Jamaica around 1pm ET and will now move in a north-easterly direction over its landmass at a speed of around 9mph.
So far, multiple deaths have been reported. Locals have been warned to shelter indoors, with 185mph winds, flooding and huge ocean surges all forecast.
Melissa is one of the strongest hurricanes in recorded history, surpassing the intensity of Katrina.
That storm caused an estimated $125bn worth of damage and killed 1,392 people when it struck New Orleans in 2005.
Hours before landfall, the two planes took off from the US to brave the storm and collect data to help improve emergency responses.
The Super Hercules took off from Willemstad, the capital city of Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island, at 6am ET and soared through Melissa and looped back around.
The aircraft returned to Willemstad at 4pm.
The WP-3D Orion left Lakeland Linder International Airport in Florida at 7:05am.
Melissa struck the west coast of Jamaica around 1pm ET and will now move in a north-easterly direction over its landmass at a speed of around 9mph
Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie said over 6,000 Jamaicans are in 382 shelters as they evacuate from Hurricane Melissa.
McKenzie noted that St. Elizabeth, which is forecast to face the brunt of the storm, had a low turnout.
‘St Elizabeth is of concern because I’m understanding that we are getting calls before we came on air of persons in St Elizabeth asking for transportation to be sent into various communities to transport persons out of those areas,’ McKenzie said.
‘It is going to be difficult; I’ve given instructions to the ODPEM director and the team to advise the disaster coordinators and the Members of Parliament and the mayors, wherever transportation is needed.
‘They should do everything possible to provide transportation to get the people out.
‘But the system that we have had [to evacuate people], those systems have been put on hold now because of the closeness of the system [hurricane].’
