Related videos:
The doctor José María Rubiera Torres, an emblematic figure in Cuban meteorology, turns 80 years old this January 22, surrounded by a wave of congratulations and tributes on social media.
The specialist, who influenced generations with his analyses of hurricanes and cold fronts, continues to be one of the most beloved and respected scientific figures in Cuba.
Born in San Antonio del Río Blanco, Jaruco, now part of the Mayabeque province, Rubiera graduated in Meteorology from the University of Havana and later earned a PhD in Geographic Sciences.
Since the early 1980s, he began disseminating weather information on radio and television, becoming the trusted voice of millions of Cubans during each hurricane season.
For over four decades, he was the head of the National Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba and the country's representative to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), where he even served as vice president of the Hurricanes Committee for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
His scientific rigor and ability to explain complex phenomena in clear language solidified his prestige both on the island and beyond.
Doctor Rubiera has been retired for several years, but he remains active through his YouTube channel RubieraTiempo, where he comments on the evolution of storms, cold fronts, and other meteorological events.
In addition, in exceptional situations, he returns to national television to deliver special reports, which are often among the most followed by the audience.
Author of over fifty scientific articles, one book, and several booklets on tropical meteorology, Rubiera has also made significant contributions as an educator in the Bachelor’s program in Meteorology at the University of Havana.
His legacy combines academic rigor with a pedagogical vocation that has contributed to the meteorological education of an entire nation.
Among the accolades received throughout his career are the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in Physical and Mathematical Sciences from the Central University "Marta Abreu" of Las Villas, the status of Honorary Member of the Association of Educators of Cuba, and the Order of Civil Merit, awarded by the Kingdom of Spain in 2018.
At 80 years old, José Rubiera maintains his calm and commitment to science. His voice, steady and measured, continues to be associated with the confidence with which Cubans face each hurricane season.
Filed under: