On Tuesday evening, a deluge of intense rain in Havana led to sudden flooding, transforming many streets into rivers overwhelmed with trash, complicating the movement for both pedestrians and vehicles. Footage shared by activist Adelth Bonne highlights the severity of the situation in the capital, where the rushing waters displaced large amounts of garbage.
According to meteorologist Raydel Ruisánchez, the weather station in Mariel, located in the neighboring province of Artemisa, recorded a staggering 58.2 millimeters of rainfall within just an hour, accompanied by wind gusts up to 67 km/h. Similar weather conditions were reported in Güira de Melena and throughout Havana.
Authorities have issued warnings about a significant risk of flash floods in low-lying areas with poor drainage, urging residents to take extra precautions. Residents from Havana neighborhoods such as Centro Habana and Diez de Octubre have shared images and accounts of the trash accumulation swept along by the currents, underscoring the vulnerability of the urban sanitation system during heavy rains.
Meteorologists from the Institute of Meteorology have predicted that rain and thunderstorms could persist throughout Wednesday, leading to continued monitoring of the situation in Havana and nearby provinces. The INSMET has also cautioned that the entire nation will experience cloudiness with some showers, rain, and thunderstorms, particularly abundant in the western and central regions. These conditions are expected to persist into the night and could be intense in certain areas.
Winds will be from the northeast to east, ranging from 10 to 25 km/h, potentially reaching 30 km/h in northern coastal areas during the afternoon with stronger gusts.
Compounding the weather crisis is a widespread power outage in the capital, further complicating life for its residents. Havana endured a challenging day with a shortfall of 220 MW, leaving the city's six power blocks entirely without service. Since Tuesday, blocks 1 through 6 have been offline, though specific areas affected have not been specified. Essentially, nearly the entire city remains without electricity, except for prioritized zones.
This recent outage adds to the ongoing sequence of prolonged and systematic blackouts that have plagued the island throughout 2025, significantly impacting the daily lives of Cubans.
Addressing Havana's Weather and Power Challenges
What caused the streets of Havana to flood with garbage?
Heavy rainfall led to sudden floods, which carried large amounts of accumulated garbage down the streets, highlighting issues with the city's drainage system.
How severe were the recent power outages in Havana?
Havana experienced significant power outages, with a deficit of 220 MW leaving the entire city, except prioritized areas, without electricity.
What are the projected weather conditions in Havana?
Meteorologists forecast ongoing rain and thunderstorms, particularly in western and central regions of Havana, with potential for severe conditions in some areas.