The city of Camagüey, located in the central-eastern region of Cuba, experienced the wrath of a severe local storm with hail and strong winds this past Friday. The storm led to fallen trees and damage to the electrical grid.
"A severe local storm (SLS) characterized by hail and strong winds occurred around 3 pm this Friday in the city of Camagüey," reported the local radio station La Voz del Bayatabo on their social media. According to this source, the storm caused the "fall of trees," triggered "dozens of transformers," and left "cables on the ground and other damages, leaving a significant number of customers without electricity," as per reports from the Camagüey Electric Company.
"As we move into summer and June, SLS occurrences become more frequent, so it is recommended that the population protect their lives and property in case of strong storms in the afternoons," the mentioned media outlet advised on its social networks.
The provincial government of Camagüey reported that the storm took place between 2:50 pm and 4:10 pm on Friday, affecting several Popular Councils within the city. However, it did not specify which ones or the extent of the damage.
"A worker from the Camagüey Meteorological Center reported that in the La Guernica district, there was hail, heavy rainfall, and north-northwest winds estimated at 90 km/h. Additionally, the electric company reported outages in the main municipality's electrical system due to this severe phenomenon," the provincial government stated.
Impacts and Causes of the Severe Storm
Specialists from the Forecast Department of the Camagüey Meteorological Center indicated that the situation was "exacerbated by the presence of a trough in the mid-levels of the troposphere, combined with the passage of a tropical wave and the instability generated in the afternoon due to the intense daily heating and local factors."
These conditions led to the formation of "convective cloud cells over the provincial capital of Camagüey, with moderate to heavy showers and electrical storm activity."
Images shared on the social media pages of the radio station and the provincial government showed the damage caused by the storm, with branches torn from trees and zinc roofs blown off by the wind's strength. These events also led to the collapse of the electrical grid and damage to transformers and other local electrical network equipment.
At the end of March, an impactful hailstorm affected localities in the provinces of Havana and Artemisa, mainly in Boyeros, Bahía Honda, and Guanajay. Videos shared on social media showed that the winds were strong in some regions.
FAQs About the Severe Storm in Camagüey
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the recent severe storm in Camagüey:
What caused the severe storm in Camagüey?
The storm was caused by a combination of a trough in the mid-levels of the troposphere, the passage of a tropical wave, and local instability from intense daily heating.
What were the main impacts of the storm?
The main impacts included fallen trees, damage to the electrical grid, and outages affecting a significant number of customers.
How can residents protect themselves during severe storms?
Residents are advised to protect their lives and property by staying indoors and securing loose items outdoors when a storm is forecasted.