The Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) has provided an explanation for the sudden and intense deterioration of weather conditions in certain areas of Havana on Monday afternoon, describing it as a "severity outbreak." In their Meteorological Note No.1, released at 9:00 PM, INSMET elaborated that three municipalities in the capital—Boyeros, Plaza de la Revolución, and Diez de Octubre—experienced rainfall accompanied by severe weather and moderate electrical activity.
In Plaza de la Revolución, the severity was notably marked by a significant hailstorm, with hailstones roughly the size of peas. Similarly, hail was reported in Fontanar, within the Boyeros municipality.
Moreover, INSMET confirmed that a weak tornado formed near Santiago de Las Vegas, particularly around the José Martí International Airport, between 6:10 PM and 6:15 PM. During these challenging weather conditions, the airport recorded a wind gust reaching 138 km/h.
In a separate incident, strong linear winds in La Víbora, located in the Diez de Octubre municipality, led to a tree falling, causing damage to power lines.
The Meteorology Institute attributed these occurrences to "the combination of afternoon instability, sparked by the intense daytime heat typical of this time of year, and local scale factors, coupled with a warm and moderately humid southeast flow in the lower troposphere." These conditions spurred some showers, rain, and thunderstorms, impacting not only Havana but also the southern regions of the entire country.
For the remainder of the night and into the early morning, INSMET predicted cloudiness associated with this daytime convection, expecting it to clear up, leaving mostly clear skies.
Understanding Havana's Severe Weather Phenomenon
What caused the severe weather in Havana on Monday?
The severe weather in Havana was caused by a combination of afternoon instability due to intense daytime heating, local scale factors, and a warm, moderately humid southeast flow in the lower troposphere.
Where was the weak tornado reported in Havana?
A weak tornado was reported near Santiago de Las Vegas, specifically in the vicinity of the José Martí International Airport.