WASHINGTON — Hurricane Melissa is a massive Category 5 storm with sustained wind speeds of 180 miles per hour, one of the strongest storms in the Atlantic.

The winds are so strong that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Hunters had to recently abandon one of their flight missions into the storm's eye on Monday due to severe turbulence.

At the time of their flight, the storm had a maximum wind speed of 165 mph.

The military said a U.S. Air Force Reserve crew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the "Hurricane Hunters," flew multiple passes through Melissa on Monday to collect critical weather data.

"The NOAA aircraft left the storm early after experiencing severe turbulence in the southwestern eyewall," the National Hurricane Center said at

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