Hurricane Hunters were forced to cut short their reconnaissance mission into the Category 5 Hurricane Melissa Monday morning, Oct. 27.

The federal government’s hurricane hunters have continued to fly despite the shutdown. At least two missions — one operated by NOAA on Monday and the second by the Air Force on Tuesday — were aborted when pilots experienced dangerous turbulence passing through the hurricane.

The NOAA's Aircraft Operations Center captured video aboard its Lockheed WP-3D Orion aircraft, Kermit, as it was buffeted by winds near the storm's eye.

Staffing cuts and a federal government shutdown are stretching scientists’ ability to make valuable hurricane observations.

See how NOAA and U.S. Air Force “hurricane hunters” fly directly into powerful storms to collect critical weather data.

An outside view showed cloudy blue skies off to the side of the aircraft while the crew plowed into the heart of Hurricane Melissa, which had wreaked havoc throughout the Caribbean islands.

The Hurricane Hunters are based on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and are known for tracking hurricanes and flying into eyes or major storms.

WC-130J Weatherbird faced the deadly forces of Hurricane Melissa to track its path and strength. Learn how the crew collected critical data and experienced the storm first-hand!

Hurricane Melissa has slammed into Jamaica with devastating force, bringing torrential rains, catastrophic winds, and widespread power outages across the island. The US National Hurricane Center confirmed that a reconnaissance aircraft flew directly through the eye of the storm,