A pilot has captured stunning footage while flying into the eye of Storm Melissa, as the hurricane steadily makes its way toward Jamaica.
The Caribbean island is bracing for ‘catastrophic’ winds, with Melissa expected to strike today (Tuesday, October 28). The hurricane is rated as a category five, with anticipated maximum sustained winds reaching approximately 280 kilometers per hour (175 miles per hour) upon landfall.
For comparison, Hurricane Patricia in 2015, the strongest recorded tropical cyclone, reached maximum sustained winds of 345 kilometers per hour (215 miles per hour) at its peak.
Melissa, the most intense hurricane of the year, has been described as the ‘storm of the century.’
The US National Hurricane Center has issued warnings of ‘catastrophic flash flooding, landslides and destructive winds’ that could lead to ‘widespread infrastructure damage, power and communication outages, and isolated communities.’
“Total structural failure is possible near the path of Melissa’s center. Along the southern coast, life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected through the day,” an update on their website emphasized.
The warning concluded that failing to act could result in ‘serious injury or loss of life.’
Despite the immense danger, a storm chaser has shared remarkable footage of his flight into the eye of Storm Melissa.
Using the Twitter handle @FlynonymousWX, and known as Tropical Cowboy of Danger, the pilot completed five flights through the hurricane on Monday (October 27).
The footage includes a view of the Atlantic Ocean from within the hurricane and a shot looking down into the storm’s eye, revealing a ‘swirl of clouds.’
The pilot has a background of two decades flying with the US Air Force and has been dedicated to a ‘hurricane hunter mission’ for the last ten years.
One social media user, reacting to the videos shared by @FlynonymousWX, commented: “Genuinely the clearest video of any eye-wall I’ve ever seen.”
“Although I dislike the destruction and fear they cause, from a purely natural perspective, they are awe-inspiring to view.”
Another user added: “This is totally bonkers brilliant! Thanks for sharing the video!” while a third referred to it as ‘pure epicness’.
In Jamaica, the minister of health reported on Monday (October 27) that three individuals have died in connection with preparations for the storm’s arrival.
Chris Tufton revealed that the deaths were ‘linked to cutting down of trees, and in one case, electrocution due to cutting down a tree.’
An additional 15 people have sustained injuries, predominantly from falling off rooftops and trees while preparing for the storm.
The Jamaican government has enforced a mandatory evacuation order in several areas as the storm approaches.
While some residents have evacuated, others have sought shelter in state-run storm shelters, with some choosing to stay and board up their homes.
Following its impact on Jamaica, Storm Melissa is expected to proceed toward eastern Cuba, then the Bahamas, and possibly Turks & Caicos.