Just landed after an absolutely insane flight with @NOAA_HurrHunter into #Melissa just before landfall in #Jamaica. I was processing the dropsonde data before it went out. When I saw the 113 m/s (219 knots) just above the surface I couldn't believe it. My display only goes to 100 by default. Such a sad situation for residents in its path. Probably will be a swath of tornado like damage. I think we also almost tied a flight level wind record today. Unfortunately tied the Labor Day hurricane for lowest pressure at landfall in the Atlantic.
A thread of videos from today’s flight into Hurricane Melissa
In this first one we are entering from the southeast just after sunrise and the bright arc on the far northwest eye wall is the light just beginning to make it over the top from behind us.
A star-studded view Inside Hurricane Melissa overnight as it further intensified toward Category 5 strength.
Senior meteorologist @MatthewCappucci was on the NOAA Hurricane Hunter flight and the poetically peaceful – and perilous – center of the atmospheric buzzsaw:
This is from today's #Melissa mission. Honestly might be my favorite eyewall penetration video ever. Never seen this vantage point before. Side view of a near peak intensity Cat 5 monster. Looks like flying thru Niagara Falls. Unreal. Check out this entire thread 🧵
🚨 TRAFFIC ADVISORY 🚨
There is a water main break and flooding in the area of Highlands Avenue and East Broadway Avenue in Estero. At this time, East Broadway is shutdown. Motorists, please avoid this area as personnel is working to fix this.
Happy first day of school! 🎒 Second grade vs. now — wishing everyone a fun, safe start to the year.
Tune into WINK — we’re live across SWFL with details on new school start times, increased security, and the latest on the teacher shortage.
SCCF Coastal Watch’s Adopt-A-Mangrove program was featured in the @nytimes ! 🌱 The article — part of the Times' '50 States, 50 Fixes' series — highlights our community’s powerful mangrove restoration efforts.
Read now: https://t.co/BG7PIuBaKb
$1 is two meals to a family in need! Hunger is in every corner of Southwest Florida — it’s estimated 1/8 adults and 1/6 kids in our area need hunger relief. I am amazed watching the # of meals go up this morning!
MARCH TO A MILLION MEALS!!!
It’s February 1st and we have a lofty goal here at WINK News to raise money for ONE MILLION meals by March 1st for families across SWFL! One dollar provides two meals.
DONATE HERE: https://t.co/pNAlWEReai @HCFBSWFL@ElizabethBirotv@maddieherron
Big #Florida panther spotted recently near Babcock Ranch in Southwest Florida. The FWC collared and weighed it at 165 pounds, making it one of the largest ever recorded in Florida. @WINKNews
DEVELOPING: An American Airlines regional jet has crashed into the Potomac River after colliding with a helicopter, a source familiar with the situation tells NBC News, causing the closure of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. https://t.co/2C7bwzCBfy
We’re aware of reports that American Eagle flight 5342, operated by PSA, with service from Wichita, Kansas (ICT) to Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) has been involved in an incident. We will provide information as it becomes available.