burning up: a tale of heatwaves plaguing cuba
summer's anticipated temperature rise: possible heightened summer heat levels ahead
It's getting steamin' hot in Cuba! heatwaves have become more frequent and intense, causing trouble for the island nation since the 2009-2010 biennium. From scorching temperatures to health issues, these extreme weather events are shaking up the Caribbean scene.
First things first - what's a heatwave? Dr. Luis Lecha Estela, a top gun in the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, explains it as a stretch of three or more days above the normal heat for a specific territory. And apparently, it's not about the sun – a heatwave can turn even a warm climate into an extreme situation when it hits a cooler region.
With that in mind, heatwaves have become a global problem, and several countries, like those in Europe, Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, China, Japan, and South America, have suffered their wrath repeatedly since 2024. It's looking like 2025 might continue the trend, with temperature records soaring throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe as early as April.
Now, you might be wondering: what's happening in Cuba? Well, buckle up! The average temperature in Cuba has climbed by 1.0 degrees Celsius since 1951, and things have gotten even hotter since 2015. Cuban summers are now marked by extended periods of extreme heat episodes - heatwaves, if you will.
According to Dr. Lecha, this change began in 2015, challenging the notion that Cuba's natural sea breezes would protect it from heatwaves. Now, observations between 2015 and the present tell a different story. Unfortunately, the last two summers, in 2023 and 2024, have seen continuous heatwaves. And if that's not enough, the monthly anomalies of global temperature from June 2023 to February 2025 have surpassed the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold compared to pre-industrial average values.
To put that in perspective, Dr. Lecha warns that there's a 70% or more probability of breaking the records for the July-August bimonthly period. If this happens, we're facing prolonged episodes of extreme heat sensations across the Cuban archipelago.
The concern is real. While the current marine heatwaves in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico are diminishing in extent, they still pose a threat. The health impacts of heatwaves are severe, including heat-related illnesses and exacerbated existing health conditions among vulnerable populations like the elderly and those with preexisting conditions.
As summer approaches, it's crucial to consider incorporating biometeorological forecasts into disaster management strategies for Cuba's National Civil Defense System. The future is heating up, and we need to be prepared!
- The definition of a heatwave, as explained by Dr. Luis Lecha Estela, is a stretch of three or more days above the normal heat for a specific territory.
- Extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, have become a global problem, affecting countries like Europe, Southeast Asia, North America, Australia, China, Japan, and South America.
- In Cuba, the average temperature has increased by 1.0 degrees Celsius since 1951, with summer seasons now marked by extended periods of heatwaves.
- According to Dr. Lecha, the climate-change-induced heatwaves in Cuba began in 2015, challenging the notion that the island's natural sea breezes would protect it.
- The environmental-science community warns of the severe health impacts of heatwaves, including heat-related illnesses and exacerbated health conditions among vulnerable populations during extreme weather events.
