This Wednesday morning, communities along the southern coast of Mayabeque awoke to the aftermath of Hurricane Milton’s "feeder bands," which brought heavy rains, gusty winds, and ocean surges to Cuba. Images shared on social media depicted towns in Mayabeque battered by winds exceeding 70 kilometers per hour, heavy rains, rough seas, and flooded streets. Fortunately, no casualties or major infrastructure damage have been reported so far.
"This is how the southern coast of Mayabeque wakes up, with gusts surpassing 70 km per hour and sustained winds at 40 km," stated Yuniasky Crespo Baquero, a Communist Party official in the province, via Facebook.
Meanwhile, the Center for Forecasting at the National Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) reported that as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday, the formidable hurricane was located 320 km north-northwest of Bahía Honda, Artemisa, moving northeast at 26 km/h, with maximum sustained winds of 250 km/h.
Western Cuba Faces Harsh Conditions
In recent hours, Milton has created adverse conditions across western Cuba, primarily causing wind gusts, intense waves, and intermittent showers associated with the hurricane’s feeder bands. An early report from Tele Pinar noted that spiral bands continue to form over the western region, as observed by the radar in La Bajada.
Additionally, the ninth Tropical Cyclone Advisory from INSMET detailed that in Pinar del Río and Havana, southern winds have been recorded at speeds between 40 and 50 kilometers per hour. Wind gusts reached up to 82 km/h in La Palma, Pinar del Río, and 72 km/h in Casablanca, Havana. These winds are expected to persist over the next 12 to 24 hours, extending their impact from Pinar del Río to Mayabeque.
Coastal Flooding Threatens Southern Shores
Apart from the powerful winds, the southern coasts of Cuba are experiencing significant storm surges. From Pinar del Río to Mayabeque, including the Isle of Youth and the Canarreos Archipelago, light to moderate coastal flooding is anticipated. In the coming hours, Havana's famous Malecón is also expected to start feeling the effects of these surges.