A severe local storm struck the city of Matanzas on Monday, bringing hail, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and numerous lightning strikes, resulting in disruptions to the electricity supply at 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, director of the provincial electric company.
The meteorologist Henry Delgado Manzor classified the event as a severe local storm, characterized by "the fall of hail the size of a pea, strong winds with gusts estimated to exceed 70 km/h, heavy rain, and numerous lightning strikes."
Among the affected circuits were those related to the pumping of water from the Canímar and El Cocal wells, as well as those that supply the Military Hospital and the Faustino Pérez Hospital, the main healthcare facility in the province.
Faced with the interruption, Faustino Pérez began receiving electricity from the Kilómetro and Naranjal circuits while the brigades worked to restore the service. Electrical issues were also reported in Cárdenas.
The effects of the storm were evident at various points in the city, and numerous residents turned to social media to display and describe what had happened.
"The center of Matanzas was flooded... water came in through the doors and windows. The drains got clogged," reported a neighbor.
Another testimony stated 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 would also have caused damage to household appliances.
"Super strong lightning, to the point that it damaged the inverter in the house, and we don't know if it also affected the equipment," reported an affected individual.
The hailstorm was another phenomenon that surprised the residents of Matanzas. "I haven't seen hail like this in a long time," commented one local. From San Luis, another user claimed to have observed stones "the size of a mamoncillo and even larger."
Adverse weather conditions could persist throughout the rest of the day. A warning issued this Monday cautioned about frequent thunderstorms from Pinar del Río to Matanzas and the possibility of new local severe storms in several provinces.
Hours after the event in Matanzas, another severe local storm was reported in the eastern part of the country.
The Provincial Meteorological Center of Las Tunas confirmed that around 4:50 p.m. a severe storm impacted the town 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 related to the passage of a tropical wave through the Caribbean Sea, combined with local factors and the significant warming recorded during the day.
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