The photographer from Pinar Mikely Arencibia Pantoja captured on October first an image that commands attention: a colossal storm advancing over the city of Pinar del Río, with cumulonimbus clouds in shades ranging from light gray to deep blue, resembling a formation associated with severe storms featuring strong winds and heavy rain.
The photograph, taken from the terrace of his home, was published on Facebook by Rubén Capote, the head of Meteorology at Telemundo 49 in Tampa, who credited its author and described it with a phrase that captures its uniqueness: “This was the face of the afternoon today in Pinar del Río, Cuba. A magnificent photograph of a very photogenic summer storm; but in autumn.”
Arencibia Pantoja himself confirmed the sharing on his profile with evident satisfaction: "I just received the pleasant news that, once again, Ruben Capote, Chief Meteorologist at Telemundo 49, posted on his Facebook profile a photo I took this afternoon of October First. In it, a storm can be seen over the south of Pinar del Río."
The image is not just a weather portrait: in the foreground, there are solar panels, blue water tanks and rusty metal, electric cables, and palm trees—elements that make up the everyday landscape of today's Cuba and contrast with the visual violence of the sky.
October marks the end of the rainy season in Cuba, which lasts from May to October and accounts for about 80% of the annual precipitation. In Pinar del Río, rainfall decreases in October compared to the peaks of the preceding months, but it remains common and local convective storms can still occur. Therefore, the occurrence of rain or storms during this time of year is not, in itself, an exceptional phenomenon.
Capote, who graduated with honors in Meteorology from the Higher Institute of Technologies and Applied Sciences (InSTEC) in Cuba and has been the head of Meteorology at Telemundo 49 —part of NBCUniversal Local— since November 2022, is a key figure for the Cuban community both on and off the island; his support for the images of Cuban photographers provides them with visibility and scientific credibility.
It's not the first time this duo has produced a remarkable moment. At the end of August, Arencibia Pantoja had captured another impressive image: a lightning strike in a violet setting with a reddish vertical streak descending from the clouds, which Capote described as "spectacular" when sharing it: "There are photos and photos, and this is one that stands out [...] Spectacular, taken this afternoon in Pinar del Río, Cuba." In that instance, the Pinar photographer publicly thanked for the dissemination, calling it "such a kindness."
Arencibia Pantoja is known on social media not only for his atmospheric images but also for his reflections on the Cuban reality. In August, he published "The Business of Misery", a denunciation of how chronic shortages fuel speculation, in a context where cooking oil exceeded 4,000 pesos —with peaks of up to 7,000 pesos— while the minimum wage stands at 3,210 pesos per month. "When a society reaches the point where the response to an abuse is 'what remedy is there?', the need is no longer just in the pockets. It also begins to live in the consciousness," he wrote then.
This trend of documenting atmospheric phenomena from the streets or rooftops is growing among Cubans, partly because the energy crisis—characterized by prolonged blackouts and non-operational weather equipment—makes citizen images increasingly relevant for information in the absence of reliable official data.
Related videos:
Filed under: