Hurricane Melissa targets Jamaica
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Melissa is one of the strongest hurricanes in the Atlantic basin. Here's how it compares with previous powerful hurricanes.
The Category 5 storm brings devastating wind and rain to the Caribbean island nation. Here's the hurricane's up-to-the-minute impact.
Lightning flashes in the eyewall of Category 5 Melissa are a marker of how strong the storm is. It reached a central pressure of 892 millibars, among the lowest ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. It is tied as the third-most intense Atlantic storm with the devastating 1935 Labor Day hurricane.
Fueled by abnormally warm Caribbean waters, Hurricane Melissa exploded into a Category 5 cyclone while moving at little more than a strolling pace – a dangerous mix that could amplify its impacts through relentless rain,
The U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron hit heavy turbulence while flying through Hurricane Melissa and was forced to turn back.
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