The 2024 hurricane season had a devastating impact, resulting in 378 deaths and economic losses exceeding $140 billion, making it one of the costliest in history.
Cuban meteorologist Raydel Ruisanchez explained on Facebook this Monday that, during this period, which ends on November 30, 18 tropical storms were formed, of which 11 became hurricanes and 5 reached major intensity.
Among these systems, two were category 5 hurricanes, a phenomenon that had only been recorded in five previous seasons (2005, 2007, 2017, 2019).
Hurricane Beryl broke records as the earliest recorded Category 5 cyclone, while Cyclone Milton was the fifth most intense in the Atlantic basin and the most powerful worldwide this year.
Of the 18 systems, 12 made landfall, including the most destructive ones, demonstrating that it's not the number of cyclones that matters most, but their intensity and ability to impact populated areas, Ruisanchez noted.
He also noted that the floods caused by heavy rainfall resulted in the highest number of deaths, highlighting the vulnerability of many areas and the need not to underestimate this danger.
Although initial forecasts predicted an extremely active season, it turned out to be above normal, leaving behind significant damage and a tragic toll of lives lost.
Cuba was directly impacted by two powerful hurricanes: Oscar (Category 1) and Rafael (Category 3), which left a trail of destruction and significant losses in their wake.
On October 20, Oscar struck the eastern region, primarily the province of Guantánamo, causing massive flooding that isolated entire communities and resulted in severe damage to homes, infrastructure, and agriculture, particularly in the municipalities of San Antonio del Sur, Imías, Maisí, and Baracoa, which were the most affected.
However, the most significant consequence was the loss of at least eight human lives, according to official government figures, which also reported two people missing. As of now, these figures have not been updated; however, residents of the affected areas in Guantanamo claim that the actual number of fatalities is higher.
Two weeks later, on November 6, Rafael unleashed its fury on the western tip of Cuba, causing devastating damage to the provinces of Artemisa and Havana, and also wreaking havoc in Mayabeque and Pinar del Río.
The hurricane dealt a harsh blow to the western part of the country, with thousands of houses and other buildings collapsing, a widespread blackout lasting over a week, damage to electrical and telephone networks, and severe devastation to agriculture. This has further exacerbated the acute economic crisis that Cuba has been experiencing for the past five years.
The 2024 hurricane season was marked by above-average activity, featuring 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. This surpassed the historical average of 14 storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
In addition to Beryl, the scientific agency highlighted Cyclone Helene, which became the deadliest hurricane in the United States since Katrina in 2005, making landfall as a Category 4 storm on the Gulf Coast of Florida and resulting in a preliminary toll of over 150 direct deaths, primarily in North and South Carolina.
Milton, another of the most devastating hurricanes, made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm, causing an outbreak of 46 tornadoes and rainfall accumulations of up to 15 inches in some areas. Its rapid intensification, with a 90 mph increase in 24 hours, was one of the fastest ever recorded.
Furthermore, NOAA noted that this season was marked by an increase in activity following the typical lull after the peak of the season.
In this regard, he noted that 12 storms formed after the climatic peak in September, including seven hurricanes recorded from the 25th of that month, the highest number for this period on record.
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