Hurricane-force winds are pummeling Havana following the landfall of Cyclone Rafael, which made its way into the Artemisa province on Wednesday afternoon. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) shared an image on social media platform X, captured at 5:00 p.m. by the Doppler radar of the National Weather Service in Key West, illustrating Hurricane Rafael's progression into western Cuba.
In their post, the NHC highlighted the severe deterioration of conditions in Havana, where hurricane-strength gusts are already being reported, amplifying the storm's impact in the area. The storm touched land at Playa Majana at 4:20 p.m., approximately 75 km south-southwest of Havana, unleashing its powerful winds on the Cuban capital, where at least 50,000 people have been evacuated.
A video shared by Martí Noticias on Facebook showcases the ferocious wind gusts in Eastern Havana. Official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso posted another video on Facebook, capturing the storm's wrath on the capital. "The weather is completely disrupted, with extremely strong winds and widespread rain across the capital," Alonso reported from one of the upper floors of the ICRT building in Havana.
Additionally, Alonso noted that all electrical circuits in the capital are out of service following the collapse of the National Electrical System that occurred Wednesday afternoon. Journalist Guillermo Rodríguez Hidalgo also reported on social media that the intense winds are being felt strongly in La Lisa, Havana.
The hurricane's fierce winds and the accompanying flooding from rain and sea surges are also impacting the municipality of Batabanó in Mayabeque. The situation remains critical as the storm continues to barrel through the region, leaving a trail of disruption and danger in its path.