Historical heat record for May at the weather station in Havana

The weather station in Casablanca, Havana, recorded a maximum temperature of 38.0 degrees Celsius this Tuesday, setting a new historical record for the month of May in that area.

The information was confirmed on Facebook by the Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology (INSMET), which detailed that the record exceeds the previous mark of 37.3 degrees Celsius, set on May 19, 2024, just a year ago.

Although it may seem unbelievable, this is not the highest temperature recorded in Cuba. In 2024, the country reached a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius for the second time in its history, and in the span of just one month. On that occasion, the event was reported in the municipality of Bolivia, in the province of Ciego de Ávila, according to sources from INSMET.

The record set this Tuesday in Casablanca reinforces the widespread perception among Cubans that the heat is becoming increasingly intense and occurring earlier, raising additional concerns about its effects on public health, energy, and daily life in cities with limited infrastructure to cope with extreme temperatures.

This new heat wave falls within a sustained trend of extreme temperatures on the island, related to both strong solar radiation and climate change. All of this occurs in a context marked by constant blackouts, which further exacerbate the feeling of heat and make it difficult for the population to cope with the heat using adequate means such as fans or air conditioning.

Recently, specialists in the sector had warned that this thermal scenario would intensify, with days marked by suffocating heat and little rainfall occurring in much of the country.

Meteorologist Raydel Ruisánchez warned on Saturday that Cuba will experience days "with intense heat and scarce rainfall," due to the presence of a well-structured anticyclone affecting all layers of the troposphere.

In this regard, last Sunday the town of Veguitas, in the province of Granma, reported a scorching temperature of 37.1 degrees Celsius, according to data from INSMET.

The record shows that May began with elevated temperatures across much of the country, with highs ranging from 32 to 35 degrees in numerous locations.

This increase in heat was accompanied by high levels of atmospheric humidity, detected up to six kilometers in altitude, as a result of the influence of an upper trough located over the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Due to these heat waves, which are leaving increasingly visible marks in Cuba not only because of their record temperatures but also due to their direct impact on the health of the population, experts recommend taking precautions, especially for the most vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic illnesses.

Recent scientific inquiries led by Dr. Luis Lecha Estela, Merit Researcher at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and the Environment (Citma), have demonstrated an increase in the daily mortality rate associated with these episodes, a trend never before detected in the country, according to the official newspaper Granma.

Frequently Asked Questions about Extreme Temperatures in Cuba