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Cubans living in the western and central parts of the country will experience a very cold night, as starting this Tuesday, there will be a significant drop in both maximum and minimum temperatures due to the arrival of a cold air mass from the Arctic.
But not only during the early hours of Wednesday, January 8, "the monkey will whistle" in much of Cuba. The early mornings of Thursday and Friday will also be "notably cold in inland areas and along the southern coast" of both regions of the country, according to predictions by Dr. Miriam Teresita Llanes Monteagudo, head of the Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology (Insmet).
The specialist told the official newspaper Granma that temperatures could be recorded below 10 degrees Celsius and even did not rule out "occasional readings around 7 °C or even lower, if clear skies and light winds prevail during the night."
Taking long-term models as a reference, the note states that "winter conditions could persist for much of the first half of January." This month and February constitute the coldest two months in Cuba.
In its forecast for the afternoon and night of this Tuesday, Insmet announced a change in the weather in the west and central regions.
The report indicates that "partial cloudiness will prevail nationwide in the afternoon, with increasing cloud cover along the northern coast of the western region accompanied by isolated showers and rain that will extend to areas on the northern coast of the central region," while rainfall will be scarce in the rest of the national territory. In the afternoon, maximum temperatures will range from 21 to 24 °C in the western half and from 25 to 28 °C in the rest of the Cuban archipelago; meanwhile, nighttime temperatures will register between 15 and 18 °C in the west, which will be lower in inland areas, and between 18 and 21 °C in the rest of the country. In the western part of the nation, winds will blow from the north, reaching speeds of 10 to 25 kilometers per hour, and up to 30 km/h in coastal areas, with stronger gusts. These winds will extend from the afternoon into the night toward the central region, while in the east, they will be variable and light.
Waves are forecasted to build in the northwest coastal area starting in the afternoon, but there will be little surf along the southern coast and central region. The sea will remain calm along the other coastlines.
In the early hours of this Monday, temperatures in Cuba dropped to around 10 degrees Celsius in areas of the west and center.
The thermometers at the Indio Hatuey weather station in Matanzas registered 9.8 °C, while in Santo Domingo, Villa Clara, they dropped to 10.2 °C.
The national record for the lowest temperature is 0.6 degrees Celsius, recorded on February 18, 1996, in Bainoa, in the province of Mayabeque.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Drop in Temperatures in Cuba
Why is a drop in temperatures expected in the west and center of Cuba?
The drop in temperatures is due to the arrival of a cold air mass from the Arctic. This phenomenon will lead to temperatures dropping below 10 degrees Celsius in some regions, especially if the skies remain clear and the winds are weak during the nights.
How long will the winter conditions last in Cuba?
According to predictions, winter conditions could persist for much of the first half of January. January and February are known as the coldest months in Cuba, so it is likely that low temperatures will continue during this period.
What are the lowest temperatures historically recorded in Cuba?
The national record for the lowest temperature in Cuba is 0.6 degrees Celsius, recorded on February 18, 1996, in Bainoa, in the province of Mayabeque. Recently, temperatures close to 10 degrees Celsius have been reported in several locations in the western and central parts of the country.
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