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The Cuban meteorologist José Rubiera launched his new weekly podcast on Saturday, July 4, on YouTube, titled "Beyond the Weather," with a first episode dedicated to the fascinating phenomenon of raining animals, which surpassed 116,000 views and accumulated over 7,400 likes in just a few days.
The premiere, published on his channel RubieraTiempo, marks a new phase in the digital activities of the scientist, who at his 80 years -celebrated on January 22- still maintains a strong capacity to engage audiences.
In the description, Rubiera explained his purpose: "I want to go beyond the weather and the work I do every day in the El Tiempo space with the forecast."
"I will present to you every Saturday a new episode of 'Beyond Time', a space where I will talk about various aspects of Earth and Space Sciences, Meteorology, Astronomy, different phenomena, curious and interesting facts, but also useful knowledge, all in a conversational, simple language that is completely understandable for anyone who is not a specialist..." he detailed.
The inaugural program, lasting 17 minutes, begins with a captivating scenario right from the start: being in a rural, outdoor setting, as the sky turns very dark and it starts to rain, and that "with the rain, small mollusks, tiny fish, small animals, spiders, frogs, and toads literally begin to fall."
To anchor the phenomenon in the Cuban experience, Rubiera recounted a case that occurred in Old Havana on April 27, 1979, when the arrival of a cold front was anticipated along with a prefrontal band and severe activity.
"Next to the bay of Havana, in that part of the city, the sky began to darken, it started to rain, and along with the rain, small mollusks, snails, and tiny fish began to fall. It was something astonishing; it didn't last long, but it happened," he emphasized.
The scientific explanation points to the waterspouts, which act "like a straw for drinking soda" by sucking up water along with small animals, transporting them in suspension and depositing them on land when the circulation dissipates.
The episode escalates in intensity as it addresses tornadoes, which are capable of lifting large animals and even people.
"The suction generated by the tornado can lift horses, sheep, cows, and even human beings into the air. And sometimes the consequences are severe and tragic," warned Rubiera, who cited the Guinness World Record of a 19-year-old from Missouri who survived being carried by a tornado in 2006, as well as the case of a four-month-old baby in Tennessee who was sucked up and found alive in a fallen tree in 2023.
The closing of the episode summarizes the philosophy of the new space: "The animals and people who fall from the sky seem to us at first glance something almost magical, a mystery. However, science provides an explanation."
The channel RubieraTiempo has approximately 185,000 subscribers.
Rubiera, retired from the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba, returned to national television in October 2025 to warn about Hurricane Melissa, and is now strengthening his digital presence with a format that promises new installments every Saturday.
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