A severe localized storm hit the city of Matanzas this Monday, bringing hail, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and numerous lightning strikes, causing disruptions in the electrical supply of two hospitals and several water pumping systems.
The phenomenon was recorded between 1:50 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. and left several circuits out of service, according to the Periódico Girón, which cited statements from Alejandro Rodríguez Aspeitia, the director of the provincial Electric Company.
The meteorologist Henry Delgado Manzor classified the event as a severe local storm, characterized by "hail the size of a pea, strong winds with gusts estimated to exceed 70 km/h, heavy rainfall, and numerous lightning strikes."
Among the affected circuits were those related to the water pumping from the Canímar and El Cocal wells, as well as those supplying the Military Hospital and the Faustino Pérez Hospital, the main healthcare center in the province.
Following the interruption, Faustino Pérez began receiving electricity from the Kilómetro and Naranjal circuits while the crews worked to restore service. Electrical outages were also reported in Cárdenas.
The effects of the storm were evident in various areas of the city, and many residents turned to social media to share and describe what had happened.
"The center of Matanzas is flooded... water came in through the doors and windows. The drains got clogged," reported a neighbor.
Another witness reported that the wind tore off the roof of the train terminal, while a resident of Peñas Altas described the intensity of the rainfall: "You couldn't see either the city or the bay."
The strong electrical discharges may have also caused damage to household appliances.
"Super strong lightning, so intense that it damaged the inverter in the house, and we don't know if it affected the equipment as well," shared an affected person.
The hailstorm was another phenomenon that surprised the people of Matanzas. "I haven't seen hail like this in a long time," commented a resident. From San Luis, another user claimed to have seen stones "the size of a mamoncillo and even larger."
Adverse weather conditions could persist for the remainder of the day. A warning issued this Monday cautioned about frequent thunderstorms from Pinar del Río to Matanzas and the likelihood of new severe local storms in several provinces.
Hours after the event in Matanzas, another severe local storm was recorded in the eastern part of the country.
The Provincial Meteorological Center of Las Tunas confirmed that around 4:50 p.m. a severe storm affected the locality of Molinet, in the municipality of Puerto Padre, with "hail the size of peas, rain, wind, and abundant lightning strikes."
The specialists explained that the phenomenon was linked to the passage of a tropical wave over the Caribbean Sea, combined with local factors and the intense warming recorded during the day.
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