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Residents of the western and some central areas of Cuba experienced a "notably cold" early morning this Wednesday, as temperatures dropped below 10 degrees Celsius in several locations, with the lowest recorded in Indio Hatuey, Matanzas, where thermometers marked 4.4 °C.
The Weather Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology (Insmet) reported that the decrease in temperatures in the interior areas of the western and central regions of the country was supported by "the low cloud cover combined with calm winds" since late Tuesday night and into the early hours of today.
"As a result, the early morning was notably cold in the western region, particularly in inland areas, as well as in specific zones of the central region, remaining cold in the rest of these territories with minimum temperature values between 10 and 13 degrees Celsius," the report specified.
In addition to the record at Indio Hatuey, other locations reported minimum temperatures of 10 °C or lower. These include the station in Güines, in Mayabeque province, with 7.0; Bauta, in Artemisa, with 8.0; Nueva Gerona, in the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, and Jagüey Grande, in Matanzas, with 8.8.
The temperatures reported at the stations in Batabanó, Mayabeque, and Santo Domingo, Villa Clara, were also significantly low, where the thermometers dropped to 9.0 °C and in Bainoa, Mayabeque, to 9.3 °C.
At the Casa Blanca station in Havana, a minimum temperature of 13.0 degrees Celsius was recorded.
The Insmet has forecasted that the afternoon of this Wednesday will feel slightly wintry in the country, with maximum temperatures between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius in the west and center, and reaching up to 27 degrees Celsius in the southeastern region.
According to their forecast, the night will be cold, with temperatures ranging from 14 to 17 degrees Celsius in the western and central regions, while in the east, they will be between 17 and 20 °C.
Historic cold in Cuba
The early morning of this Tuesday, February 3, has been the coldest morning in the history of Cuba, with a record low temperature of 0 degrees in Indio Hatuey, Matanzas.
At the weather station in that locality of the Perico municipality, the lowest temperature ever recorded was noted, “reaching freezing point for the first time in Cuban territory,” emphasized the Insmet.
The new national record breaks the previous mark of 0.6 degrees Celsius, which was recorded at the Bainoa station in Mayabeque on February 18, 1996.
Due to the significant drop in temperature in Indio Hatuey, "the presence of frost on the leaves of several crops in the area was evident," revealed the Insmet report.
At 32 weather stations across the country, temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius or lower were recorded, and in some locations, the record for the lowest temperature in February was surpassed, reported Cuban meteorologists.
Temperatures were extreme in stations such as Tapaste, in Mayabeque, with 2.8 °C, and Aguada de Pasajeros, in Cienfuegos, with 3.0 °C. The latter broke the absolute record for the station.
This was followed by the recordings in Güines (3.2) and Bainoa (3.7), also in Mayabeque; and at the Havana Airport, with 4.4 degrees Celsius.
The temperature also "dropped" in Venezuela, Ciego de Ávila; Bauta, in Artemisa, and Santo Domingo, in Villa Clara, with 5.4 °C; while Topes de Collantes, Sancti Spíritus, and Gran Piedra, in Santiago de Cuba, reported temperatures of 5.5 and 5.9 degrees, respectively.
Other significant records were reported at the stations in the city of Sancti Spíritus with 6.0 degrees Celsius; Playa Girón in Matanzas (6.3); Camilo Cienfuegos in Ciego de Ávila and the city of Cienfuegos, both at 6.5; meanwhile, the historical record for the current month was matched in the city of Pinar del Río, with 6.9 degrees Celsius.
This extreme cold wave, uncommon on the island, marks a climatic milestone for Cuba.
Insmet has urged Cubans to stay alert to official announcements and to follow the protection recommendations against intense cold, especially for the most vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic illnesses.
Another cold front arrives on the island
During this Wednesday and the early part of Thursday, a cold front will be moving through the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to reach the western region of Cuba by tomorrow afternoon, reported the Forecast Center of Insmet.
This system will be the ninth cold front of the current winter season 2025-2026. According to the forecast from Cuban meteorologists, "it will move quickly across the country towards the east, increasing cloud cover and rainfall upon its arrival and during its passage through the national territory, primarily along the northern coast."
As a result, cold mornings will persist in the western half of the island until February 8, while the 6th and 7th will be wintry across much of the national territory. Starting on the 8th, maximum temperatures will begin to rise gradually, and minimums will increase starting on the 9th, according to the latest weather report.
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