The U.S. Defense Department has released footage of views inside Hurricane Melissa. 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 for the National Hurricane Center.

On Saturday, Oct. 25, Melissa was predicted to be at 16.6N 75.4W. Maximum sustained winds were predicted to reach 65 mph. To be classified as a hurricane, maximum sustained winds need to reach 74 mph.

The two categories combined make up about 17 percent of all hurricanes in recorded history. Those reaching Category 5 — like Melissa — historically make up more like 4 percent of hurricanes. And fewer than half of the strongest two categories of hurricanes go on to hit land at such intensity.