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Heatwaves are leaving increasingly visible marks in Cuba, not only due to record temperatures but also because of their direct impact on the health of the population.
Recent scientific investigations led by Dr. Luis Lecha Estela, a Distinguished Researcher at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (Citma), have shown an increase in the daily mortality rate associated with these episodes, a trend that has never before been detected in the country, as revealed by the official newspaper Granma.
Since the biennium 2009-2010, there has been a sustained increase in extreme hydrometeorological events globally.
The more frequent, intense, and prolonged heatwaves have become one of the most alarming phenomena of global climate change, with notable effects on health, the economy, and social well-being.
In statements to Granma, Dr. Lecha explained that he, a proponent of biometeorological forecasts in Cuba, warned that the effects of extreme heat particularly impact vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses.
In Villa Clara, where studies have been conducted in collaboration with scientific and health organizations, severe thermal stress cases and an increase in excess mortality related to these phenomena have been identified.
The most common symptoms associated with extreme heat include excessive sweating, dehydration, weakness, dizziness, muscle cramps, and loss of consciousness, among others, according to medical literature.
During the recent Cuba-Health 2025 Convention, Lecha Estela emphasized the urgency of incorporating these forecasts into the plans of the National Civil Defense System in order to prevent disasters and protect the population against the increasing threat of extreme heat.
The researcher warns that Cuba began experiencing heatwaves systematically starting in 2015, dispelling the belief that the island's insular condition protected it from such extreme events.
Starting from that year, summers on the island began to record very high temperatures for several consecutive days, with a rising trend observed in the years 2017, 2020, and continuously in 2023 and 2024.
During that period, monthly global temperature anomalies surpassed the threshold of 1.5 °C compared to the pre-industrial era, a fact that highlights the severity of the phenomenon.
The outlook for the summer of 2025 is not encouraging: according to the weather models consulted by Lecha and his team, it is highly likely that extreme heat will intensify in all three regions of the country, with greater influence from oceanic high pressures, less cloud cover, intense solar radiation, and a possible reduction in rainfall.
The situation worsens in Cuba with an intensified energy crisis, despite the regime's promises to "improve" power outages during the summer months, along with a shortage of medications and precarious food supplies.
Based on historical data from the period 1979-2022, it is estimated that the average air temperature in July and August hovers around 28 °C. However, this year there is a probability of 70% or more that these values will be exceeded, with sustained maximum temperatures above 33 °C.
This increase in temperatures is a global phenomenon. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with an average global surface temperature exceeding the average for the period 1850-1900 by 1.55 °C.
This milestone marks the first year in which the average global temperature exceeded the threshold of 1.5 °C, established in the Paris Agreement as a limit to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change, the WMO emphasized.
Cuba recorded several days of intense heat during the year. In May 2024, for example, a total of 24 weather stations reported temperatures over 35 degrees Celsius.
According to the Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology (INSMET), maximum temperatures ranged between 33 and 36 °C. The highest value recorded was 37.9 °C in Velasco, a locality in the municipality of Gibara, Holguín.
Frequently asked questions about the impact of extreme heat in Cuba
How do heatwaves affect health in Cuba?
Heatwaves in Cuba have increased daily mortality, especially among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic illnesses. The most common symptoms of extreme heat include excessive sweating, dehydration, weakness, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
Since when has Cuba been experiencing intense heat waves?
Cuba began to experience systematic heat waves starting in 2015, with rising temperatures during the summers in years such as 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2024. Heat waves have become an increasing threat due to global climate change.
What measures are being taken to address heat waves in Cuba?
The doctor Luis Lecha Estela has proposed to incorporate biometeorological forecasts into the plans of the National Civil Defense System to prevent disasters associated with extreme heat. However, the energy crisis, the lack of medications, and the precarious food situation complicate the response to these phenomena.
What is the relationship between climate change and heat waves in Cuba?
Heat waves in Cuba are an alarming manifestation of global climate change. Global temperature anomalies have surpassed the threshold of 1.5 °C compared to the pre-industrial era, intensifying extreme heat on the island.
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