Tens Of Thousands Of Birds Trapped In Eye Of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa

According to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Hurricane Melissa is currently cranking out maximum sustained winds of 175 mph with gusts clipping over 200 mph. In fact, Melissa is so powerful that the storm has sucked in tens of thousands of birds into the eye and trapped them there.

According to MyRadar Weather senior meteorologist Matthew Cappucci, birds were discovered in Melissa‘s eye by the Hurricane Hunters.

“Tens of thousands have likely been sucked into the eye, unable to fight against the strong inward winds. Most of these bird(s) are trapped,” posted Cappucci on social media. “Sometimes they can’t escape until the storm weakens, unless they encounter an island and can hunker down on land.” (RELATED: Video Shows Inside Look Of Hurricane Melissa’s Eye In Truly Breathtaking Sight)

Unfortunately for the birds, they might not make it out of the hurricane alive.

“Over the open ocean, the birds have no place to land. Some fall out of the sky and die from exhaustion,” wrote Cappucci.

BREAKING: The Hurricane Hunters have found BIRDS in Melissa’s eye.

Tens of thousands have likely been sucked into the eye, unable to fight against the strong inward winds.

Most of these bird are trapped. Sometimes they can’t escape until the storm weakens, unless they encounter… pic.twitter.com/lCxCAhZaWG

— Matthew Cappucci (@MatthewCappucci) October 27, 2025

As Hurricane Melissa is forecasted to make landfall into the Caribbean, Hurricane Warnings are currently in effect for Jamaica, the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin, and Southeastern and Central Bahamas, according to the NHC.

Turks and Caicos Islands are currently under a Hurricane Watch.