A US Air Force squadron flew over the eye of Hurricane Melissa, capturing spectacular images that contrast sharply with the catastrophe the storm is leaving in its wake in Jamaica.

The recordings were made after the hurricane made landfall in the Caribbean country, and they allow us to observe the silence at the center of the storm, framed by winds and clouds of extremely high intensity.

How the images were captured

The images were taken from a US military aircraft, a WC-130J Hercules from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron.

To achieve this feat, The aircraft flew at a pressure altitude of approximately 3,049 meters (10,000 feet).

Where is Melissa?

Hurricane Melissa reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale before making landfall in Jamaica, with sustained winds of 295 km/h (185 mph), making it the most intense storm to hit the island, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

According to the World Meteorological Organization, “it will undoubtedly be the storm of the century in Jamaica.” Despite this, Melissa slowly weakened upon entering the Caribbean country, but remains a Category 4 hurricane as it heads east toward Cuba with the potential for further impacts.

Hurricane Track and Projection in the Coming Hours

After its direct hit on Jamaica, the center of Melissa is heading toward the eastern provinces of Cuba, where mass evacuations have already begun. It is then expected to move toward the Bahamas and areas of the western Atlantic, weather permitting. The hurricane's slow movement, along with the warm waters fueling it, means that affected areas may remain under intense winds and prolonged rainfall for longer than usual. Why this hurricane is extremely dangerous: The combination of extreme winds, an expected storm arises from up to four meters, Torrential rains and the system's slow movement make Melissa a greater danger than a typical hurricane.