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Tornado Strikes Güira de Melena, Artemisa, Stirring Awe and Fear

Thursday, July 10, 2025 by Claire Jimenez

A powerful tornado made its appearance on the afternoon of Thursday, July 10, in the Cuban town of Güira de Melena, located in the province of Artemisa. The natural event not only sparked a mix of amazement and concern among residents but also prompted a flood of images and videos shared by witnesses on social media.

Reports from users like American meteorologist Madison Torres, local meteorologist Frank Fernández Castañeda, and Odalis Pérez, along with specialized meteorological platforms, indicate that the tornado briefly touched down in an open field. This limited the extent of property damage and prevented human casualties, though the visual spectacle it created was deeply striking.

Visual Spectacle Captured by Locals

The page Aficionados a la Meteorología shared, “Incredible images straight out of a horror movie…” confirming that the funnel cloud stirred up red dirt and dust, giving it a distinct and eerie orange hue. Residents of San Antonio de los Baños and Güira de Melena documented the funnel cloud's development from various vantage points, capturing the moment it made contact with the ground and raised a column of earth as it moved through the rural areas of the municipality.

Parked tractors, people recording with their phones, and a sky overshadowed by a dense dark mass set the scene, which many described as unusual and terrifying for the western part of the country.

Ongoing Assessment and Concerns

So far, there have been no reports of injuries or damage to homes. However, authorities and official media outlets like Canal Caribe are beginning to gather data on the phenomenon's scale and its potential technical classification as a tornado based on its interaction with the ground.

This incident has once again sparked debate about the meteorological preparedness of Cuban communities amidst a hurricane season already predicted to be active, with extreme conditions exacerbated by climate change.

Historical Context and Future Preparedness

This is not the first tornado to have struck Cuba in recent years. The memory of the devastating tornado that hit Havana in January 2019 is still fresh in many minds. Although today's event did not have similar consequences, concerns linger: Is Cuba ready to handle such phenomena? Do residents have access to early warnings and evacuation plans?

The images of the Güira de Melena tornado are now circulating across the island and among the exile community. For many Cubans, both at home and abroad, they serve as a stark visual reminder of nature's power and the vulnerability of our infrastructure.

Meteorological Preparedness in Cuba

How did the tornado in Güira de Melena form?

The tornado formed in an open field, and its funnel cloud stirred up dirt and dust, giving it a distinct orange color.

Were there any casualties or damage reported?

No injuries or significant damage to property have been reported, thanks to the tornado's brief contact with the ground in a rural area.

What are the concerns about Cuba's preparedness for such events?

There is ongoing concern about whether Cuba is equipped to handle such natural phenomena, including access to early warnings and evacuation plans for residents.

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