A powerful local storm swept through Bayamo, the capital city of Granma province, on Monday. With winds exceeding 60 mph, hail, and falling trees, the storm caused significant electrical damage in the area. These preliminary findings were reported by the Provincial Meteorological Center.
Meteorologist Jorge Félix Hernández presented the official report, noting an intense 81.5 millimeters of rainfall within an hour. Such heavy precipitation is considered extreme, even by the standards of Cuba's rainy season.
One of the most striking features of the storm was the unusual hail, with sizes comparable to peas and chickpeas. This rare occurrence in eastern Cuba has occasionally caught Bayamo residents off guard in the past.
The powerful winds, surpassing 60 mph, resulted in fallen trees that further exacerbated the damage to the city's already vulnerable electrical infrastructure.
The Provincial Meteorological Center emphasized that the released data is "preliminary," indicating that the final assessment of damages might be greater than currently known.
Yudelkis Ortiz, the first secretary of the PCC in the province, shared images on Facebook showing the aftermath of the storm. She stated, "The white seen in the photo is hail that fell. It is still raining but less intensely. No one should venture outside under these conditions."
Bayamo's Stormy Past
Bayamo has a history of severe storms. In August 2025, hail the size of golf balls bombarded the city during another intense storm. Earlier, in July 2020, a severe local storm left 36 homes damaged, with two completely collapsed, 13 roofs entirely gone, and disruptions to both electrical and telephone networks.
This Monday's storm is not an isolated incident. On May 5th, a severe storm hit Las Tunas, delivering 62 mm of rain and winds reaching 50 mph, which caused flooding in streets and bridges in the neighboring province.
The Meteorological Institute had previously warned that May 2026 would bring temperatures exceeding historical averages across the country. Such conditions promote atmospheric instability and the development of intense convective storms, like the one that hit Bayamo on Monday.
Cuba's rainy season runs from May to October, a period marked by frequent severe local storms, with Granma historically being one of the eastern provinces most susceptible to these weather phenomena.
Understanding Granma's Severe Storms
What were the main effects of the recent storm in Bayamo?
The storm caused significant electrical damage due to winds exceeding 60 mph, hail, and falling trees. It also resulted in 81.5 millimeters of rainfall in just one hour.
How often do severe storms occur in Bayamo?
Bayamo experiences severe storms relatively frequently during Cuba's rainy season, which spans from May to October. The city has faced several notable storms in recent years, including events in 2020 and 2025.
Why is Granma particularly vulnerable to severe storms?
Granma is historically prone to severe local storms due to its geographical location and weather patterns during the rainy season. This makes the province more exposed to such phenomena.