July will be hotter, with less rain and sweltering nights, according to a meteorologist

The month of July is shaping up to be one of the hottest and driest of the year in Cuba, with high temperatures during the day and not-so-cool nights, as warned by meteorologist Elier Pila Fariñas, a researcher at the Forecast Center of the Cuban Institute of Meteorology.

In an analysis published on Cubadebate, the specialist explained that the combination of the Atlantic Anticyclone and the arrival of Sahara dust are the main factors behind the increase in heat and the reduction of rainfall during this time of year.

"Even though we are already into the first week of the seventh month of the year, questions about how the remainder of July will unfold continue to arise," wrote Pila.

"It is one of the two hottest months of the year," he warned.

The meteorologist explained that July represents a natural pause in Cuba's rainy season, being the month that contributes the least to the annual total of precipitation.

This is partly due to the intensification of the anticyclone, which creates more stable conditions with clear skies, strong solar radiation, and minimal cloud cover.

For this purpose, the Saharan Air Layer, commonly known as Saharan dust, also plays a role by reducing atmospheric humidity and acting as a barrier to the development of tropical cyclonic systems.

However, Pila notes that the occurrence of sporadic showers and isolated thunderstorms cannot be ruled out, particularly in the afternoons and evenings, associated with the passage of tropical waves and low-pressure systems, although not with high frequency.

According to the Monthly Forecast from the Climate Center, rainfall is expected to remain close to normal levels in the West, but below the historical average in the Central and Eastern regions, which could exacerbate the existing drought conditions in those areas.

Regarding temperatures, both maximum and minimum will exceed historical averages, resulting in hotter days and more stifling nights, with a greater impact in the central and eastern regions of the country.

Elier Pila concludes that the dominant scenario in the coming weeks will be one of intense heat and lack of rainfall, a combination that impacts both human health and the agricultural and energy sectors, which have already been affected by the extreme conditions of this Cuban summer.

The persistence of extreme temperatures and the decrease in rainfall had already been affecting the country for several months. In Holguín, the increase in heat has led to a deterioration in living conditions, exacerbated by power outages.

According to local reports, the situation in hospitals, homes, and workplaces is critical, with direct consequences on public health, including fainting, altered blood pressure, and difficulties sleeping.

This unusual heat pattern had already shown alarming signs in May, when a weather station recorded a historic temperature record for that month, reaching levels that exceeded previously documented highs.

These episodes are attributed to the intensification of the Atlantic anticyclone and the arrival of Sahara dust, factors that are now solidifying in July as responsible for an even more hostile environment.

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Cuba in July 2025