cuba weather .org - Weather News Archive

2008-09-30 03:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. The overcast sky will be predominant in the West bringing some showers and thunderstorms. It will be mainly sunny in the rest of the country with just a few clouds until the afternoon when it will turn cloudy with occasional showers in the Centre and isolated in the rest. Today maximum temperature is expected to be between 30-33 degrees Celsius, superiors in localities of the South East. At night, it will drop to 24â€“27 degrees Celsius. The winds will be weak between 10-25 Km/h with sea brezees in the afternoon, especially in the Centre and Easter region. There will be a slight unrest of the sea all over the northern coasts even in both Eastern coasts; in the rest of the coast the sea will be calm.

2008-09-29 11:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. Another hot day is due today with temperatures between 30-33 degrees Celsius, superiors in localities of the South East. At night, it will drop to 24â€“27 degrees Celsius. The day will be sunny with some clouds, especially in the afternoon, when the increased overcast sky can bring some showers, particulary in the West. The winds will blow from South-East to East in the West and from the East in the rest of the country with speed between 15-25 Km/h, reaching maximum of 20 Km/h in the afternoon. There will be a slight unrest of the sea all over the northern coasts while in the rest of the coast the sea will be calm.

2008-09-27 03:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. The morning will be partially cloudy in the West with the occurrence of some showers, increasing in the afternoon. In the rest of the country it will be sunny with some clouds until the afternoon when the increased overcast sky can bring some sporadic showers, specially in the central region. During the day the maximum temperature will be between 30-33 degrees Celsius, dropping down to 24â€“27 degrees Celsius at night. The winds will be weak with sea breezes regime in the afternoon. There will be some dangerous waves in the North coasts of the Eastern which can cause problems for tourists and shallow-draft vessels. In the rest of the North coasts a little unrest of the sea is expected while in the rest of Cuba the sea will remain calm.

2008-09-26 03:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. The overcast sky will be predominant in the Western region bringing showers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon. In the rest of the country it will be sunny; the clouds will increase towards the afternoon with some showers and thunderstorms, specially in localities of the Center region and isolated in the Eastern. The day will be warm with maximum temperatures between 30â€“33 degrees Celsius, somewhat hotter in localities of the South East. At night, it will drop to 24â€“27 degrees Celsius. The winds will be weak with sea breezes, never exceeding the speed of 20 km per hour. The swell on the North coast will persist, while in the South the sea will remain calm.

2008-09-25 03:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. Another warm day is expected throughout the whole territory of Cuba with maximum temperatures between 30â€“33 degrees Celsius, even higher in some localities of the Eastern south, whereas at night it will drop to 23â€“26 degrees Celsius. The morning will be mostly clear skies and sunny, except in the West where it will be slightly cloudy with some possible showers, as well as in Pinar del Rio. In the afternoon the sky one will become cloudy to a large extent of the country bringing some showers and thuderstorms in the West and localities of the interior, more isolated in the rest of the country until the night. The winds will be weak until the end of the morning, when they will blow from the Northeast with sea breezes between 10-25 km per hour. There will be unrest of the sea on the North-East coast; slight unrest from Punta de Maisi to Cabo Cruz and calm sea in the rest of the south coasts.

2008-09-24 03:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. The sky will be mostly clear and sunny across the country with some clouds and the ocurrence of some quick rain downpours in some parts; they will become denser in the afternoon when the increased overcast sky can bring some thunderstorms and showers, specially in the interior and south of the provinces, those that will be isolated in the rest of the country. Temperature will reach its peak in the afternoon and it will be 30â€“33 degrees Celsius, superiors in some localities of the interior, while it will drop to 24-27 degrees Celsius at night. The winds will blow from the North to Northeast in the Western with speeds between 15-30 km per hour being superiors in zones of the North coasts. In the rest will be weak, except in zones of the North coast when will blow in the afternoon until 25 km per hour. There will be unrest in the North coast and calm sea in the rest.

2008-09-23 03:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. It will be mostly clear skies and sunny early in the morning but one will become cloudy in the afternoon when the increased overcast sky can bring some thunderstorms and showers, specially in the interior and south of the provinces, those that will be isolated in the rest of the country. Temperature will reach its peak in the afternoon and it will be 30â€“33 degrees Celsius, superiors in some localities of the interior, while it will drop to 25-28 degrees Celsius at night. The winds will be weak until the end of the morning when they will blow from the Northeast with speeds between 10-25 km per hour until the dusk, being superiors in zones of the Eastern North coast. There will be unrest in the Eastern North coast and little tidal surge in the rest of the North coast as well as from Punta de MaisÃ to Cabo Cruz. In the rest of the South coast, the sea will remain calm.

2008-09-22 11:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. It will be mostly clear skies and sunny but cloudy in the afternoon, when the increased overcast sky can bring some thunderstorms and showers, specially in the interior and south of the provinces, those that will be isolated in the rest of the national territory. Temperature will reach its peak in the afternoon and it will be 31â€“34 degrees Celsius, while it will drop to 25-28 degrees Celsius at night. The winds will blow from the Northeast to the East with speeds between 10-25 km per hour until the dusk. There will be slight unrest in all the North coast, as well as in the Western South coast. In the rest of the South coast, the sea will remain calm.

2008-09-21 23:45 WEATHER ACTUAL. HAVANA. Sunny and hot all day, again. Some small clouds occasionally. Strongish sea breezes. Ideal conditions for kiteboarding. Some quick rain downpours in some parts of the city late in the afternoon. The photos below were all taken today at Club Habana, on the western outskirts of Havana city.

My tennis partner required to take some shade between sets.

2008-09-20 17:15 WEATHER ACTUAL. HAVANA. Sunny and hot all day. Some thin clouds at times. Breezy. (So far, much the same as yesterday)

Habaneros fishing boat infront of Vedado Malecon

Classic American car infornt of ruins of Gran Hotel Trotcha, which is infront of the modern Hotel Melia Cohiba, Vedado, Havana, Cuba

Gran Hotel Trotcha - A long time ago. In 1941 a guidebook wrote.. There is an Old New Orleans mood to this sprawling structure that rambles everywhere

Gran Hotel Trotcha side garden - Some time ago. In 1941 a guide book wrote.. With fabulously lovely gardens.. Dreamy splashing fountains..

2008-09-20 07:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. It will be mostly clear skies and sunny but may be slightly cloudy in the West and Center and partially cloudy in the East. In the afternoon it will be cloudy in the Center and Eastern regions with numerous showers and thunderstorms that will extend until the night. Temperature will reach its peak in the afternoon and it will be 31â€“34 degrees Celsius, superiors in some localities, while it will drop to 24-27 degrees Celsius at night. The winds will be weak in all the country, except in the Western region where they will blow from Northeast and could reach the speed of 25 km per hour. There will be slight unrest in all the North coasts and calm sea in the South coasts.

2008-09-19 23:45 WEATHER ACTUAL. HAVANA. Sunny and hot all day with some white fluffy clouds at times. Light winds. The evening also mostly clear skies. No precipitation. Very little wind.

Hotel Melia Cohiba through an arch of the ruins of an ancient hotel, Trotcha, Vedado, Cuba

Mid-September late afternoon in Vedado, Havana, Cuba

2008-09-19 07:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. It will be mostly clear skies and sunny but may be slightly cloudy by the end of the morning, when the increased overcast sky can bring some thunderstorms and showers in zones of the interior and the south of the provinces that will be numerous from Matanzas to Camaguey. In zones of the North coast it will be partially cloudy with isolate showers, mainly from the night. Temperature will reach its peak in the afternoon and it will be 30â€“33 degrees Celsius, while it will drop to 24-27 degrees Celsius at night. The winds will be weak apart from Northeast in the Western region where they could reach the speed between 15-30 km per hour,superiors in zones of the North coast. There will be slight unrest in the western North coast that will arrive at surge in afternoon. In the rest of the coasts, the sea will remain calm.

2008-09-18 23:45 WEATHER ACTUAL. HAVANA. Warm evening but not humid. Mostly clear skies. Occassional cloud scudding past. One 2 minute dose of cooling rain just before midnight.

Vedado Palm. Late Evening. Long exposure and enhanced mid-tones

Vedado Theatre. Late Evening. Long exposure and enhanced mid-tones

2008-09-18 14:00 WEATHER ACTUAL. HAVANA. Sunny, clear blue skies and atmosphere, low humidity, very good visibility, light refreshing sea breeze, not too hot in the shade.

2008-09-18 11:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. Clear blue skies across most of Cuba. In the afternoon the sky will be cloudy with some showers and thunderstorms, that can be more numerous from Pinar del Rio, the interior of the Havanan provinces and Matanzas, to the central provinces. Maximum temperatures will be between 31-34 C, superiors in some localities, whereas at night they are between 25-28 C. The winds will be variable weak and will blow from the Northeast to the East in zones of the North coast, with speeds between 10-25 Kms/h. There will be little tidal surge in the North coast of the Eastern region. In the rest of the coasts, the sea will remain calm.

2008-09-18 09:30 WEATHER ACTUAL. HAVANA. Sunny, clear blue skies and atmosphere, low humidity, very good visibility, no wind, not hot in the shade.

2008-09-17 18:00 WEATHER ACTUAL. HAVANA. Clear blue skies (sunny and hot) all day. The last fews day there feels a definite change in season from almost unbearably hot to just plain hot.

2008-09-17 12:00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. Clear blue skies across most of Cuba. In the late afternoon in the Eastern regions and localities of the interior and the south of the rest of the provinces that will be isolated in zones of the North coast it will become cloudy with some showers and thunderstorms. Maximum temperatures in the afternoon will be between 31-34 C, superiors in some localities. At night the temperatures will be between 25-28 C. The winds will blow of Northeastern region with speeds between 10 -25 Kms/h. There will be little surge in the North coast of Eastern half and from Punta de MaisÃ to Cabo Cruz, that will arrive at surge in afternoon in the most Eastern end. In the rest of the coasts, the sea will remain calm.

2008-09-16 18:00 WEATHER ACTUAL. HAVANA. Clear blue skies all day until 17:00 when slightly overcast for a short while.

2008-09-16 09.00 WEATHER FORECAST. NATIONWIDE. It will be slightly cloudy until the end of the morning, when the increased overcast sky can bring some thunderstorms and showers. Temperature will reach its peak in the afternoon and it will be 31 â€“ 34 degrees Celsius, while it will drop to 25 â€“ 28 degrees Celsius at night. The winds will be weak apart from Northeast region where they could reach the speed between 10-25 km per hour. There will be slight unrest of the sea in the east, while in the central and southern regions the sea will remain calm.

2008-09-13 08:00 Havana. The sky will be partially cloudy in zones of the North coast of Eastern half with occasional showers and little cloudiness in the rest of the territory. From the end in the morning it will be partially cloudy and one will become cloudy from Ciego de Avila to Tunas and HolguÃn, with some showers and rains. In afternoon one will become cloudy in some localities of the rest of the country just by isolated showers that will extend until the dusk. Maximum temperatures will be between 31-34 C, superiors in localities of the Eastern South portion. At night the temperatures will descend to be between 25-28 C. The winds will blow of the Southeast in the western region and from East in Center and Eastern region with marine breezes, with speeds between 10-25 Kms/h, being able to arrive up to 30 Kms/h in zones of the North coast. There will be little surge in all the North coast, as well as in the South coast of western half. In the rest of the coasts the sea will remain calm.

2008-09-12 08:00 Havana. The sky will be mainly cloudy in the western region, with some showers and rains mainly in Pinar del Rio. In the Central and Eastern region one will become cloudy from afternoon with some showers in the East and localities of the interior of the Central region, those that will be isolated in the rest. The temperatures will fluctuate between 31-34 C to a large extent of the country, inferiors in the western region, whereas at night they are between 25-28 C. The winds will blow of the Southeast in the Western region and from the Northeast to the East in the rest, with speeds between 15-30 Kms/h. There will be surge in the South coast of Pinar del Rio and little surge in the rest of the coasts, except in the Eastern North coast where it will be increased to surge from afternoon.

2008-09-10 17:30 Havana. Sky now brighter and rain has abated. Still the occasional big gust. Just a short time earlier there was short lightning storm that produced heavier rain and caused more flooding (brief) than came directly from Hurricane Ike. Surprising to me was that the hurricane clean-up operation was in full swing throughout. The big tree that fell across my road at 4pm yesterday was discovered within minutes by a chain-saw wielding team and calmly chopped up and the road cleared - all while the full force of the hurricane was raging around them. Very impressive. Then earlier this morning drains were cleared just before this afternoons new storm - which meant flooding was not worse. Cool man! See photos below. Note that in my district, Vedado, power has yet to be restored. Gas for cooking remained available throught the H.

2008-09-10 11:00 Havana. The sky is dark and overcast. Very strong gusts. Light drizzle. Warm. A bit like average summers day in the UK. See photo below: As Hurricane Ike moves away, in Vedado, Havana, a family pick through their sodden belongings. Minutes later, rather efficiently, a truck came and cleared it all up.

2008-09-10 04.00 local time - Hurricane Ike rattled Havana after its second landfall in Cuba and is now swirling across the Gulf of Mexico on a projected path towards the Texas coast. Ike destroyed at least 16 buildings in the Cuban capital but the city was spared the extensive damage suffered in other parts of the country. The UN estimates the cost of the damage at between $3bn-$4bn. Four people died in Cuba as a result of the hurricane - the first storm-related fatalities for several years. One person was killed by a falling tree, an elderly woman died when her house collapsed and two others were electrocuted. State television said almost 1.25 million people had been moved to shelters - more than one-tenth of the island's population. The eye of the storm made its second landfall in Cuba's Pinar del Rio province, about 55 miles (90km) south-west of Havana, packing sustained winds of 80mph (130km/h). Ike first struck in Holguin province, which is home to the nickel mines, the country's top export earner. The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says it is still too early to tell the full extent of the economic impact wrought by Ike. Tens of thousands of buildings have been damaged and crops destroyed. There is also likely to be an impact on the tourist industry, our correspondent says. The agency's director in Havana, Herman van Hooff, said that the latest storm could be a setback to restoration work. "Since the [1990s] there has been a very strong management system in place for the old Havana area, and a lot has been restored since then," he told the BBC. "There is still a lot of fabric, a lot of architecture, a lot of housing that is in a fragile state, so any impact by a hurricane, be it wind or rain, is a great concern to everybody." Cuba is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Gustav, which hit just over a week ago, damaging almost 100,000 homes in the west of the island.

Hurricane Ike made its second landfall in Cuba, south of the capital, Havana, bringing fierce winds and torrential rains, before heading back out to

Nearly 1.25 million people across the country remain in makeshift shelters where they have been riding out the storm.

2008-09-09 12.00 local time - Hurricane Ike has powered ashore south of Cuba's capital, Havana, bringing with it fierce winds and heavy rains. Huge waves are pounding the capital's seafront promenade as the eye of the storm moves closer, while there are floods and mudslides on higher ground. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from Havana ahead of the storm's second landfall this week. Four people are known to have died so far in the storm, which battered the east of the island on Monday. It is the first time in several years that a hurricane has claimed lives in Cuba, which is renowned for its well-organised mass evacuations. State television said almost 1.25 million people had been moved to shelters so far - more than one tenth of the island's population. The authorities said late on Monday that a further 175,000 people were being evacuated from Havana; particularly those living in old, unstable apartment blocks that may not be able to withstand a direct hit by hurricane-force winds. The Cuban authorities have put the entire population on maximum alert. The eye of the storm made its second landfall in Cuba's Pinar del Rio province, about 55 miles (88km) south-west of Havana, packing sustained winds of 80mph (130km/h). The Category One storm was moving west-north-west at 13mph, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. President Raul Castro and his brother Fidel were monitoring the storm "minute by minute", state television said. The hurricane first came ashore in Cuba on Monday near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin, about 510 miles south-east of Havana. Winds of about 100mph tore the roofs off many buildings, knocked down trees and destroyed crops. One person was killed by a falling tree, an elderly woman died when her house collapsed and two others were electrocuted. As Ike moved back out to sea, the US National Hurricane Center downgraded it to a Category One after its maximum sustained winds dropped to about 80mph. However, it said a slight increase in intensity was possible while the storm's centre remained over the warm Caribbean waters. The eye of the storm is forecast to cross into the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday night. Louisiana's governor has warned coastal residents to be prepared to move inland, although the NHC said it was still too early to tell in which direction Ike would move. A direct hit on Havana, a densely populated city of two million people, with crumbling colonial buildings, could be devastating. The United Nations cultural agency, Unesco, has offered to help the Cuban government make good any damage to heritage sites and important buildings. The agency's director in Havana, Herman van Hooff, said that the latest storm could be a setback to restoration work. "Since the [1990s] there has been a very strong management system in place for the old Havana area, and a lot has been restored since then. "There is still a lot of fabric, a lot of architecture, a lot of housing that is in a fragile state, so any impact by a hurricane, be it wind or rain, is a great concern to everybody," he told the BBC. Among those evacuated from Cuba before the arrival of Ike were 15,000 tourists. Cuba is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Gustav, which hit a week ago, damaging almost 100,000 homes in the west of the island.

In Camaguey, Cuba's third-largest city, electricity poles were felled and older buildings reduced to rubble as the eye of the storm passed.

Only days ago the Hurricane Ike ravaged eastern parts of the island, damaging houses and destroying crops.

2008-09-09 03.00 local time - Hurricane Ike is heading towards the Cuban capital, Havana, after causing widespread flooding and damage to the country's eastern provinces. Tens of thousands of people are being moved from vulnerable areas and crumbling buildings in the capital. Ike battered the east of the island with torrential rain and giant waves on Monday, killing four people. It has weakened to a Category One storm, but forecasters say it could strengthen before hitting Havana. The hurricane first came ashore in Cuba on Monday near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin, about 510 miles (825km) south-east of Havana. State television broadcast pictures of the accompanying storm surge washing over coastal defences and sending waves crashing into buildings. Sustained winds of about 160km/h (100mph) tore the roofs off many buildings, knocked down trees and destroyed crops. One person was killed by a falling tree, an elderly woman died when her house collapsed and two others were electrocuted. As Ike moved back out to sea, the US National Hurricane Center downgraded it to a Category One hurricane after its maximum sustained winds dropped to about 130km/h (80mph). However, it said a slight increase in intensity was possible if the storm's centre remained over water. The eye of the storm is forecast to continue westward along Cuba's southern coast before hitting western Cuba on Tuesday morning and emerging into the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday night. The Cuban authorities have put the entire population on maximum alert and hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated to shelters or moved to higher ground. With Hurricane Gustav striking just a week ago, Cuba's internationally acclaimed emergency services have been stretched to the limit, the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says. "In all of Cuba's history, we have never had two hurricanes this close together," said Jose Rubiera, head of Cuba's meteorological service. A direct hit on Havana, a densely populated city of two million people, with crumbling colonial buildings, could be devastating. The capital has been put on alert as authorities prepared to evacuate residents from some of the older buildings. The United Nations cultural agency, Unesco, has offered to help the Cuban government make good any damage to heritage sites and important buildings. The agency's director in Havana, Herman van Hooff, said that the latest storm could be a setback to restoration work. "Since the [1990s] there has been a very strong management system in place for the old Havana area, and a lot has been restored since then. "There is still a lot of fabric, a lot of architecture, a lot of housing that is in a fragile state, so any impact by a hurricane, be it wind or rain, is a great concern to everybody," he told the BBC. Among those evacuated from Cuba before the arrival of Ike were 15,000 tourists.

The streets of town of Baracoa in eastern Cuba were flooded, with rain and powerful winds hampering the clean-up effort.

Extreme weather conditions did not stop some people going about their business.

2008-09-08 12.00 GMT â€“ Hurricane Ike weakened to a category two storm today as it moved across Cuba towards the capital Havana, with its winds and storm surge destroying houses and toppling trees. More than 900,000 Cubans have been evacuated to shelters or higher ground in an attempt to escape the hurricane's full fury. Ike had earlier raked the Bahamas and worsened floods in Haiti, which have already killed at least 319 people. Ike made landfall late yesterday as a category three storm, but weakened by this morning. At 5am (10am GMT) Ike had maximum sustained winds near 105mph (170kph) with the US National Hurricane Centre predicting the storm would further weaken as it moves through central Cuba today. The hurricane is likely to hit Havana early tomorrow. But its storm surges still threaten communities along most of the north-eastern coast of the island, which has been deluged with rain, according to Cuba's National Meteorological Institute. State television broadcast images of the storm surge washing over coastal homes in the eastern-most city of Baracoa. It said huge waves surged over buildings as tall as five stories and dozens of dwellings were damaged beyond repair. In the provincial capital of CamagÃ¼ey, municipal workers boarded up banks and restaurants before heavy rain started falling. "There's no fear here, but one has to be prepared. It could hit us pretty hard," said Ramon Olivera, while filling up his motorcycle. Mirtha Perez, a 65-year-old retiree, said hardly anyone was left in her nearby town of Salome. "It's a huge evacuation," she said. "We are waiting and asking God to protect us and that nothing happens to us."

Cubans carry their belongings out of a flooded house in Baracoa on Sunday as Hurricane Ike approaches

The town of Baracoa in eastern Cuba was pounded by the waves formed by winds of hurricane Ike

2008-09-08 Hurricane Ike is battering Cuba's northern coast, generating winds of more than 195km/h (120mph), giant waves and torrential rain. Cuban TV has said that some homes along the coast, where hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated, have been damaged beyond repair. Ike killed at least 47 people in Haiti and reportedly damaged 80% of homes on the main Turks and Caicos islands. It weakened to a Category Three storm but remains dangerous. The Cuban Meteorology Institute said the eye of the hurricane came ashore near Punta Lucrecia in the state of Holguin about 510 miles (823km) south-east of Havana. With Hurricane Gustav striking just a week ago, Cuba's internationally acclaimed emergency services are being stretched to the limit, the BBC's Michael Voss reports from Havana. Gustav caused serious damage to the western side of the island, damaging almost 100,000 homes. Ike is forecast to reach the capital early on Tuesday morning. A direct hit on the densely populated city of two million people with its precarious colonial buildings could be devastating, our correspondent says. Havana is nervously awaiting the arrival of Ike as it moves destructively along the island's east coast. The BBC's Michael Voss, in Havana, told BBC radio that people there are preparing for the worst. It could be at least another 24 hours before it gets here. Cuba is about 1,000km [620 miles] long and Ike has struck at the eastern end of the island, the other end from the capital. It hit the province of Holguin which has a tourist resort called Guadalavaca. All the tourists there have been evacuated. State television has shown pictures of giant waves breaking over sea walls, waves as high as apartment blocks, and it is reporting that homes have been damaged. Even at Category Three, Ike is still considered to be a major hurricane, which means it can be incredibly destructive. The path that Ike is taking, coming along the coast, makes it one of the most dangerous for the capital Havana. It is not only the high winds that could destroy some really flimsy 19th-Century housing apart from the historic old town. With the circular winds, you are going to get the storm surges coming over the wall and flooding Havana as well. It was very badly flooded by Hurricane Denis in 2005 and they are fearing it could be as bad, if not worse, this time. People here have been queuing up to buy bread. They are boarding up windows, making sure that everything is ready, clearing the streets, getting cars moved away from the most vulnerable areas. We are predicting that come daybreak on Monday evacuations will begin in the capital.

2008-09-07 14.30 Havana. Hurricane Ike is now creating strong winds and dangerous seas at Baracoa. The sea wall has already been breached and sea has already inundated inland by two blocks. A friend there describes it as a disaster already. Tourists of the Villa Maguana and Hotel La Habanera have been evacuated to the very robust Hotel El Castillo. The Hotels El Castillo and Porto Santo say that they do not expect any major damage. Hotel clients are instructed to shelter in bathrooms when necessary. Aswell as the strong winds and storm surge, heavy rains are a major concern for population of Baracoa.

2008-09-07 - Thousands of people have taken refuge across the Caribbean as one of the season's fiercest hurricanes barrels across the islands, on course for Cuba. The storm is hammering the Bahamas with 135mph (215km/h) winds and is due to hit the Cuban coast on Sunday night. Forecasters say Ike could strengthen on its way to Cuba, threatening to devastate the island's sugar cane fields and putting the crumbling colonial buildings of the capital, Havana, at risk. In Havana, residents have been stocking up on petrol, candles and canned food, after a television weather presenter said "almost the entire country is in the danger zone", AP reports. Hurricane warning is in effect for the following Cubaâ€™s provinces: Villa Clara, Sancti Spiritus, Cienfuegos, Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Las Tunas, Granma, Camaguey and Ciego de Avila. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area withing the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. At 20.00 GMT hurricane watch has been extended to the province of Matanzas and City of Havana.

2008-09-06 19:00 Havana. Hurricane Ike has intensified, with sustained surface winds of 135 mph. Senor Ike is now and extremly dangerous category 4 hurricane. Additional strengthening is expected as it continues to pass over warmer waters before striking El Oriente de Cuba (The East of Cuba). The Government of Cuba has issued a hurricane warning for the provinces of Guantanamo, Santiago de Cuba and Holguin. Storm surges of 13 to 18 feet are expected for Cuba's East coast. The forecast track has straightened out so that it will exit Cuba at Havana. AY DIOS MIO!

2008-09-06 13:40 Havana. Hurricane Ike although weakened slightly is expected to re-strengthen sugnificantly before making landfall on Cuba. The Official track puts Ike smashing through much of the island of Cuba; starting with Guardalavaca, then thru Holguin City, Las Tunas City, Camaguey City, Ciiego de Avila City, Sancti Spiritus City, Santa Clara and exiting Cuba at Varadero.

2008-09-06 08:00 Havana. The sky will be cloudy to a large extent of the country, with some showers and thunderstorms, that will be more numerous in the Western region. Maximum temperatures would reach values between 31-34 C, and at night will oscillate between 25-28 C. The winds would blow with breeze regime. There will be little surge in the Central and Eastern North coast, as well as from Punta de MaisÃ to Cabo Cruz. In the rest of the coasts the sea will be calm.

2008-09-05 21:00 Havana. Hurricane Ike is predicted by USA National Hurricane Centre as An extremely dangerous hurricane for the next several days. Forecast models overall show a further shifting South and very possibly a track over Cuba. Cayo Coco, Varadero and Havana are all well inside the FCFL (forecast cone firing line). In fact every major city of Cuba is in the last forecast cone except Santiago de Cuba. Mijo!

2008-09-04 13:00 Havana. Hurricane Ike is weakening and looks like it might go well north of Cuba. Tropical Storm Josephine doesn\'t look like it will become a hurricane, and is anticipated to go well north of Cuba. Hanna continues nortward past Bahamas.

2008-09-05 08:00 Havana. - The sky will be predominantly cloudy in the Eastern region with numerous showers and rains. In the Central and Eastern regions it will be partially cloudy and one will become cloudy during afternoon in some localities with isolate showers and thunderstorms until the dusk. Maximum temperatures will reach values between 31-34 C, inferiors in the rain areas. At night the temperatures will be between 24-27 C, superiors in coastal zones. The winds will blow from the Southeast to the South in the Eastern region with speeds between 15-30 Kms/h. In the rest of the national territory will predominate the weak variable winds with marine breezes in afternoon up to 20 Kms/h. Will continue the swells in the Eastern North coast and central with danger for the shallow-draft vessels, those than they will fall gradually in the Eastern one. In Eastern the western and South coast North there will be surge and little surge in the rest of the South coast.

04.09.2008, 8:00 a.m. â€“ Today will predominate the storm clouds in the Eastern region with numerous showers and rains. In the rest of the country the sky will be partially cloudy and it will arrive at cloudy in afternoon with isolated in the western one. Maximum temperatures will be between 31-34 C, and at night will be between 24-27 C, superiors in coastal zones. The winds will blow of the North to the Northeast in the Western and Central regions, with speeds between 15-30 Kms/h, superiors in gusts of wind. In the Eastern region they would blow of the Northwest with speeds between 20-35 Kms/h, superiors in zones of the North coast. They would continue the swells in all the North coast with danger for shallow-draft vessels and in all the South coast will remain calm.

2008-09-04 3:30 am Havana. Hurricane Ike is still only young but already a category 4 hurricane, and is estimated to intensify further over the next 12 hours. Although some days away from the Caribbean, it is ominously whirling its way west, very possible to Cuba. The data suggests it will weaken a little and nudge a little north in 24 to 72 hours time; but after that will re-strengthen and continue westward. The consensus seems to be Hurricane Ike will be another major hurricane.

Havana had a close shave last week with Hurricane Gustav, passing just to its West, and so missed out on its full force. Also Gustav came from the South. What worries us in Havana is the one that doesn\'t make landfall at all but just skirts along the Northern coast and across the bay. The hurricane can keep feeding itself on the warm waters of the Florida Straits; so with nothing to stop it being a full-on category 5, with wind speeds of over 155 mph. I guess you know what it is like sticking your arm out of a car at 100 mph? So then too, a major hurricane on such a track might push infront of it a massive volume of sea. Some storm surges have been over 30 feet. Havana\'s sea wall, called El Malecon is only about 6 to 10 feet high. Since my first floor balcony in Vedado is only marginally above Malecon level I am especially concerned about Mr Ike\'s current strength and track.

03.09.2008, 8:00 a.m. â€“ The sky will be mainly cloudy in Eastern half with some showers and rains that will be increased from the night, those that can be strong and locally intense in mountainous zones and the North coast. In the rest of the country it will be partially cloudy and cloudy in afternoon with some showers that will be isolated in the western North coast. Maximum temperatures will oscillate between 31-34 C and at night will oscillate between 24-27 C. Winds will blow from the Northwest in the Eastern region with speeds between 20-35 Kms/h although in zones of their North coast will blow between 40-60 Kms/h. Will continue the strong swells with danger to navigation in the North coast of Eastern half with coastal floods in low zones from the East of Camaguey to Punta de MaisÃ, being increased during tonight. In the rest of the North coast there will be surge and in the Eastern South end that can arrive at night at swells in the western North coast. In the western and central South coast, the sea will remain calm.

02.09.2008, 8:00 a.m. â€“ The sky will be mainly cloudy in the Eastern region, with numerous showers and rains, that can be strong and locally intense in some localities and mountainous zones. In the rest of the country it will be cloudy with some showers and rains, those that will be occasional in zones of the western North coast. Maximum temperatures will be between 31-34 C in the West and Center, whereas in the rest will be between 28-31 C. At night will be between 25-28 C. In the Eastern region winds will blow of the Northwest with speeds between 60-70 Kms/h, between 20-35 Kms/h in the rest. In the Center they would blow of the North with speeds between 15-30 Kms/h and the West of the country will blow of Northeastern region up to 25 Kms/h. There will be swells in the Eastern North coast, with danger for the boats and accumulations of water in low zones of this coast. Surge in the Eastern South coast, both coasts of the central region as well as in the western north. The sea will be calm in the western south.

01.09.2008. â€“ Havana 09.00 GMT â€“ Hurricane Gustav left Cuba leaving tens of thousands of homes smashed, toppled trees and telephone poles and washed out roads. No deaths were reported on Sunday as the massive storm roared away from the island with the U.S. Gulf Coast in its sights. Gustav made a direct hit on the Isla de la Juventud south of the Cuban mainland as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on Saturday with screaming 140 mph (220 kph) winds. It then passed across the country\'s western tip before heading into the Gulf of Mexico on a collision course with the southern United States. The storm damaged or destroyed 86,000 homes and downed 80 electricity towers across the island, said Col. Miguel Angel Puig, head of operations for Cuban civil defense. Speaking on a government news round-table program, Puig said 19 people were injured, though none gravely. Most of the 250,000 residents who were evacuated to shelters were back home by Sunday evening. On Isla de la Juventud, surging waters tossed a transport ferry from its moorings into a neighborhood in the city of Nueva Gerona, and knocked down radio and television towers. The storm snapped fruit trees, flooded all major roads and demolished homes. In Pinar del Rio, the western tobacco-producing region, highways were blocked by fallen trees and downed power lines, and all public transportation ground to a halt. People who lost their homes gathered in nearby fields, and Puig said authorities were working to relocate those left homeless by the storm. Officials measured gusts of 212 mph (340 kph) in the western town of Paso Real del San Diego â€” a new wind speed record for a country often hit by major hurricanes, according to Miguel Angel Hernandez of the Cuban Institute of Meteorology. Gustav\'s winds appeared to have done the most damage, but some areas experienced flooding. In the fishing town of Batabano, 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of Havana, evacuees â€” some with their dogs in tow â€” returned to their pastel-colored, wooden homes to find water seeping under the doors. Nearby streets were flooded waist-deep. "My house is full of water," said Aldo Tomas, 43, pulling palm branches from his living room. "But we expected more. We expected worse."

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Tourist Advisory

The weather is hot and sunny all year round. April and May though are especially good. Then you have the most sunny days, low rainfall, low humidity, hot, but not too hot and no hurricanes. In addition, and rather perversely, generally this time, except the Easter week, is “low season”. So, you should see that flights, hotels, package holidays and car rentals are at the lowest rates but with relatively high availability. Please note some Hotels and Car models are popular all year so bookings are advisable as far in advance as possible.

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