Meteorologist Raydel Ruisánchez issued a warning on Sunday regarding two atmospheric troughs that are set to create unstable weather conditions across Cuba. One trough is situated over the southeast of the Gulf of Mexico, while the other is near the eastern part of the island. These systems, combined with intense daytime heating and abundant moisture in various layers of the troposphere, are expected to foster conditions for rain, showers, and thunderstorms, particularly in the western region and interior and southern areas of eastern Cuba, Ruisánchez noted on Facebook.
“Extreme caution is advised during thunderstorms,” Ruisánchez emphasized, sharing a forecast image from the WRF-ARW mesoscale weather model. The rainfall could be locally heavy and persist into the early evening hours.
Meanwhile, the Forecast Center of Cuba's Institute of Meteorology reported via their Telegram channel that extensive cloudiness is anticipated in the afternoon across much of the country, leading to showers, rain, and thunderstorms, predominantly in the western and eastern areas, with more isolated occurrences in the central region. High temperatures are also expected, with maximums ranging from 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (32 to 35 degrees Celsius)—higher in interior regions—and nighttime lows between 73 and 79 degrees (23 to 26 degrees Celsius), slightly cooler in the interior. Winds will remain light and variable, and the sea conditions will be mostly calm, except for slight waves along the southeastern coast.
In Havana, even a brief drizzle was enough to flood several streets on Saturday, highlighting the failure of the city's drainage system, as reported by local residents. Cuban photographer Sergei Montalvo Aróstegui shared on Facebook that areas such as Cuatro Caminos and Centro Habana experienced flooding due to drainage issues. "Residents end up having to clear blockages in the sewers themselves to allow the water to drain and the streets to be passable," he wrote, alongside videos capturing the flooding.
Just days ago, additional flooding was reported on the Calzada del Cerro, where videos shared by the independent outlet CubaNet showed the iconic avenue turned into a river, with water reaching the doorsteps of homes. Urban flooding has become a daily reality for Havana's residents. Only two weeks ago, heavy rains led to street and building collapses in several municipalities, and a tragic incident in Cerro resulted in the death of a five-month-old baby.
Residents of Havana continue to call for the cleaning of sewers and the overhaul of the outdated sewage system.
Weather and Infrastructure Challenges in Cuba
What are the main factors causing unstable weather in Cuba?
The presence of two atmospheric troughs, combined with intense daytime heating and abundant moisture in the troposphere, are the primary factors leading to unstable weather conditions in Cuba.
How are Havana residents dealing with frequent flooding?
Residents are often forced to manually remove blockages in the sewers to alleviate flooding on the streets, as the city's drainage system struggles to cope with heavy rains.
What measures are being called for to address flooding in Havana?
Inhabitants are urging for the cleaning of sewers and a comprehensive renovation of the outdated sewage infrastructure to prevent recurring flooding issues.