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

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

They fly straight into the world’s most dangerous storms to gather life-saving data. Here's the skinny on the pilots and scientists who make hurricane hunting possible.

Satellites around Earth are watching as a powerful Hurricane Melissa travels toward Jamaica. On Oct. 21, scientists began monitoring Hurricane Melissa — the 13th named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane season this year — develop.