The Cuban meteorologist José María Rubiera Torres was spotted with his wife at a Cuban restaurant in A Coruña, Spain, according to a video posted on TikTok on July 30 by the user @dianeisygarcia.
In the 22-second clip, the owner of the establishment states, while showing it on camera, that the renowned scientist is visiting the place for the third time and invites him to greet the Cuban community.
"To the public figure Rubiera: this is the third time he has come to my bar. Come on, say something to your Cuban community, Rubiera. I hope you have a great time, stop by; I highly recommend it. Here we have his wife. Thank you," says the person recording the video.
The scientist's appearance on Spanish soil had not been publicly confirmed prior to this record.
Rubiera, popularly known as the "watchman of hurricanes," celebrated his 80th birthday in January 2026 and is regarded as the most recognized figure in Cuban meteorology.
For decades, he led the Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology of Cuba and represented the country at the World Meteorological Organization.
Although he has stepped back from his institutional roles, the scientist remains active in digital outreach.
His YouTube channel RubieraTiempo has over 267,000 subscribers, and on July 4, 2026, he launched the weekly podcast "Beyond Time", dedicated to Earth Sciences, Meteorology, and Astronomy. The first episode of the podcast, about animal rain, surpassed 116,000 views and 7,400 likes in just a few days.
Rubiera's connection to Spain has its roots: in October 2018, the Spanish government awarded him the Order of Civil Merit in recognition of his contributions to meteorological science.
Despite his retirement, the meteorologist has not completely left the front lines of information: in October 2025, he returned to Cuban television to alert about the evolution of Hurricane Melissa, and in June 2026 he published an analysis on Tropical Storm Arthur warning about flood risks.
Rubiera's popularity among the Cuban diaspora was evident in the restaurant's reaction, which presented him as a "public figure" and invited him to address "his Cuban community," a gesture that reflects the affection he elicits among Cubans abroad.
The video quickly amassed over 66,900 views, 3,728 likes, and 550 shares, figures that confirm the interest generated by any public appearance of the historic meteorologist.
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