A View from Inside the Eye of Hurricane Melissa (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Oct 28, 2025 1:11 PM ET

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm with historical implications in terms of strength, is soon to unleash its fury upon the island nation of Jamaica.

The storm is one of the strongest ever to make landfall in the Atlantic Basin, and officials are warning residents to take cover. Maximum sustained winds from Melissa have hit 185 mph – greater than Hurricane Katrina (175 mph) – and in addition to the gusts, advisories have been issued for flash-floods, landslides, and storm surge waves nearing 15-feet. Already, before the storm officially makes landfall, three deaths have been reported.

And before Melissa unloads on Jamaica, hurricane hunters captured rare footage via airplane, flying into the eye of the storm. See below.

The view is stunning, yet foreboding and ominous. It shows that rare phenomenon, the circle of safety, amidst a wall of rage from the swirling tempest. Pretty insane that humans have the capability, and the balls, to fly an airplane into such a wild scenario.

As for more on what’s expected from Melissa in Jamaica, the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center stated the following, specifically regarding waves:

“A life-threatening storm surge is likely along the south coast of Jamaica today. Peak storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa makes landfall. This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. On the northwest coast of Jamaica, near Montego Bay, there is the possibility of 2 to 4 feet of storm surge above ground level.”

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Xhr6POI86pM

Additionally, the NHC is warning for potential high storm surges in nearby Cuba as a result of Melissa. “Peak storm surge heights could reach 8 to 12 feet above normal tide levels, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa makes landfall,” the agency stated. “This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.”

Stay tuned for more updates as Hurricane Melissa makes landfall today in Jamaica.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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