Tropical Storm “Rafael” intensified this Wednesday to a Category 2 hurricane, heading to the west of Cuba, where preparations were increased, classes and transportation were suspended, while the Civil Defense declared an alarm.
It’s another blow for Cuba, which is dealing with blackouts, while facing the aftermath of another hurricane that passed two weeks ago and left at least eight dead in the eastern part of the island.
The Civil Defense of Cuba decreed a cyclonic alarm for this Wednesday, before the imminent impact of Hurricane “Rafael”, converted into an enormous mass of rain and winds that will hit the west of the island.
In the capital and several provinces Public transportation and classes were suspended, as well as many work activities. Crews of employees collected garbage and other obstructive materials from Havana’s Malecon and several low-lying areas, given the forecast of floods; while Roofs, windows, boats and all kinds of property that could be affected were secured.
The authorities They also canceled flights in the main air terminals like Havana and Varadero.
Thousands of people were evacuated preventively in the western towns of Pinar del Río, Isla de la Juventud, Mayabeque and Havana, authorities informed local media.
“Rafael” will arrive in Cuba in difficult circumstances
“Rafael” will arrive in Cuba in complex circumstances: a trough that brought a lot of water to the east, especially to Guantánamo, where a previous cyclone, “Oscar”, already made landfall on October 20. The balance he left was eight dead and more than 150 thousand people affectedas well as damage to roads, bridges and homes. It also damaged coffee crops, one of the most important in the area.
With “Oscar”, the municipalities of Baracoa, Imías, Maisí and San Antonio Sur were the most affected.
The imminent arrival of “Rafael”, adds to the weakness of the national energy system that collapsed in the middle of last month, leaving a historic blackout from end to end of the island for several days, and a severe economic crisis with fuel shortages, lack of water and inflation.
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According to the Cuban Meteorological Institute, “Rafael” will cause, starting in the morning, sustained winds of up to 65 kilometers per hourwhich will rise up to 110 kilometers per hour, and higher gusts in the afternoon, as the cyclone gets closer to the island to cross it, before heading north.
Strong storm surges are also expected on the south-central and western coast of the country.with moderate to heavy coastal flooding. Precisely for this reason, the Civil Defense declared the alarm phase, that is, People must have maximum protectionfor the provinces of Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, Artemisa and Pinar del Río, as well as the Isla de la Juventud and the Canarreos archipelago.
The storm was 140 kilometers east southwest of the Isla de la Juventud, and about 260 km south-southwest of Havana. It had maximum sustained winds of 160 km/h and was moving northwest at 22 km/h (14 mph), according to the United States National Hurricane Center (NHC) based in Miami.
ESPECIAL / NOAA
The meteorologists They predict that “Rafael” will impact Cuba this Wednesday after causing rain in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands this Tuesday. The NHC warned of flooding and landslides.
Preventive measures
The United States Department of State issued a notice to Cuba this Tuesday, making available flights for its non-essential personnel and US citizens to leave the island. He also recommended “reconsidering traveling to Cuba, due to the possible impact of tropical storm “Rafael.”
Meanwhile, the Cuban Civil Protection agency sent this Tuesday a message on social networks to the population to prepare as soon as possible, highlighting the importance of staying in one place once the storm makes landfall. This Monday, authorities said they had issued an evacuation order for 37 thousand people in the province of Guantanamo, the eastern tip of Cuba, due to bad weather.
Besides, a tropical storm warning was issued for the Cuban provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus and Ciego de Ávila, as well as for the lower and middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, and Dry Tortugas. The alert was withdrawn in Jamaica after the storm passed over the west coast.
“Rafael” left Jamaica without electricity this Tuesday and caused floods and landslides.
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The Jamaica Public Service, the island’s electricity provider, said in a statement Tuesday night that impassable roads prevented crews from restoring power in some areas.
Forecasts
The forecasts also indicate heavy rain that They would extend north until they reached Florida, and areas near the southeastern region of the United States the rest of the week.
The hurricane center predicted storm surges in Florida, which could reach 30 centimeters to one meter in Dry Tortugas, and 30 to 60 centimeters in the lower Florida Keys. Besides, some tornadoes are expected to originate this Wednesday over the Keys and the southwestern tip of the Florida mainland.
The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted that 2024 hurricane season would likely be well above averagewith between 17 and 25 named storms. The forecast indicated the possibility of up to 13 hurricanes and four hurricanes of category 3 or greater.
An average Atlantic hurricane season produces 14 named stormsseven of them hurricanes and three of category 3 or greater.
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