Even though Hurricane Helene, a Category 2 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, is moving away from the Cuban coast, heavy rain continues to batter the western and central parts of the country.
In a social media post, the Cuban Institute of Meteorology (Insmet) reported significant rainfall in the western and central regions over the past 24 hours. The highest accumulations were recorded at 108.3 mm in Isabel Rubio, Pinar del Río, and 84 mm in Bahía Honda, Artemisa.
Strong Winds and Heavy Rain
A tropical cyclone warning issued by Insmet at 6:00 a.m. indicated that Helene's passage near the national territory generated sustained winds during the early hours of Thursday, reaching up to 60 kilometers per hour at the Casablanca station in Havana.
Additionally, several strong wind gusts were reported: 101 kilometers per hour in Santa Lucía, Pinar del Río; 92 kilometers per hour in Casablanca, Havana; and 70 kilometers per hour at the Cienfuegos station.
Continued Weather Warnings
The institution warned that the rains will persist and may become heavy and intense in some areas, especially in the western region. In the coming hours, sustained southerly winds with speeds between 40 and 55 kilometers per hour, and stronger gusts, will continue in the western region.
Sea swells will persist along the southern coast of provinces from Pinar del Río to Sancti Spíritus, with strong swells expected to the south of Isla de la Juventud and the Canarreos archipelago, as well as on both coasts of Pinar del Río province, leading to light to moderate coastal flooding in the southwestern coast.
Impact on Infrastructure and Agriculture
Yamilé Ramos Cordero, the First Secretary of the Communist Party in Pinar del Río, announced that the main damages in the province are concentrated in the electrical infrastructure and agriculture, with the latter still being assessed.
On the Isle of Youth, while the meteorological phenomenon helped improve reservoir volumes, Helene impacted key sectors such as agriculture, tobacco production, and the electrical service. The electrical sector was also damaged in Artemisa.
Additionally, images circulating on social media depict the impact of this cyclone on the island.