Rainfall and falling temperatures combine with flooding and strong winds
14ymedio, Havana, February 1, 2026 – Western Cuba woke up this Sunday to a meteorological scenario unusual for an island that prides itself on living in “eternal summer.” The arrival of the eighth cold front of the current winter season has brought coastal flooding, strong swells, and several flooded streets in Havana.
The phenomenon is accompanied by a marked drop in temperature. In the afternoon, thermometers will barely reach between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius [59F and 64F] in the west and center of the country, and between 18 and 21 degrees in the eastern region. At night, conditions will be even colder, with lows expected between 11 and 14 degrees in the west and center, and up to 16 degrees in the east, with lower temperatures in some localities in the central part of the island.
These conditions exacerbate the everyday precariousness faced by thousands of Cubans. In neighborhoods where cooking gas is scarce and power outages are the norm, the cold translates into difficult nights, especially for the elderly, children, and people living in homes with deteriorated roofs. The situation is also harsh for those forced to cook with firewood or charcoal, a practice that has become increasingly widespread amid the energy crisis.
Added to this are strong winds, with sustained speeds between 15 and 30 kilometers per hour and gusts that can exceed 35 km/h along the northern coast, intensifying the wind chill. Overnight, the wind will shift to the north, maintaining similar intensities and stronger gusts along the shoreline.
Flooding is another test of endurance, especially for those living in low-lying areas
For many Havana residents, flooding represents another test of endurance, especially for those living in low-lying zones. But those whose homes suffer from long-standing leaks and cracked walls are not spared either, as wind slips through uninvited. Many improvise with cardboard, plastic sheeting, or old sheets to cover gaps; others resort to borrowed coats or multiple layers of clothing just to be able to sleep. In the poorest neighborhoods, dampness settles into mattresses and furniture, worsening respiratory problems and rheumatism that rarely find relief in an understocked health care system.
Among the risks accompanying these weather conditions are flooded basements, contamination of potable water cisterns, and uncovered sewer openings: hidden traps that have already proved deadly in previous floods. The day is also more difficult for those who depend on informal work or daily transportation to survive. Rain and flooded streets reduce the circulation of buses and shared taxis (almendrones), raise transportation costs, and force many to walk long distances in downpours, with the resulting loss of time and income.
For many, however, the greatest fear is not during the hours of rain or wind, but in the days that follow, when the sun returns and the accumulated moisture begins to seep out of aging walls that can no longer withstand decades of neglect and lack of maintenance. In Havana, the subsequent heat acts as a silent trigger that softens walls, opens cracks, and accelerates the deterioration of structures that have been at the limit for years. Partial or total collapses usually occur then, far from the drama of the storm, but with more serious and lasting consequences.
This permanent risk turns each cold front into a deferred threat for thousands of families living in shored-up buildings, tenements, and subdivided houses. Many sleep in fear of not hearing in time the creak of a wall or the collapse of a balcony. In a city where structural collapse has become normalized, the greatest threat does not come from outside, but from within the walls themselves.
Translated by Regina Anavy
____________
COLLABORATE WITH OUR WORK: The 14ymedio team is committed to practicing serious journalism that reflects Cuba’s reality in all its depth. Thank you for joining us on this long journey. We invite you to continue supporting us by becoming a member of 14ymedio now. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.