Havana burns: record heat of 38 ° C and the consequences for Cuba!

Havana burns: record heat of 38 ° C and the consequences for Cuba!

Havanna, Kuba - in Havana, this May was shaped by an unprecedented heat wave. On Tuesday, the Casablanca weather station reached an incredible 38.0 ° C, a new record for this month. The temperature thus exceeded the previous record of 37.3 ° C, which was measured on May 19, 2024, such as Directoriocubano.info reported.

The extreme heat is not only a new chapter in Cuba's weather history, but also also a result of the increasingly aggressive global warming. On April 11, 2024, the highest -registered temperature of 40.1 ° C was ever reached in Jucarito, Granma. Even in Ciego de ávila, impressive 40.0 ° C were measured on May 14, 2024.

Health effects of the heat waves

The health consequences of these heat waves are alarming. Scientific studies published by Dr. Luis Lecha Estela, indicate a significant increase in the daily mortality rate during such extreme temperature fluctuations. Particularly endangered groups, such as older people, toddlers and people with chronic diseases, are severely affected. According to cibercuba.com , the reports from Villa Clara show us serious cases of heat stress and excessive mortality.

The symptoms of extreme heat include dehydration, dizziness and loss of consciousness - warning signals that should not be ignored. The departure from the assumption that Cuba is protected from extreme weather events due to its insular situation is clearly refuted by the systematic heat waves since 2015.

forecasts and challenges

The forecasts show that the average annual temperature could increase by over 1 ° C and 3.5 ° C by 2070, which would cause significant effects on public health, agriculture and energy infrastructure. This is done in a context in which frequent power failures and malnutrition further exacerbate the living conditions of the population.

The World Organization for Meteorology (WMO) rated the warmest year since the beginning of the records, with a global average of 1.55 ° C above the values ​​from 1850 to 1900. In May 2024, numerous days were also recorded with temperatures above 35 ° C. In view of the increasing heat waves, the urgency becomes clear to integrate biometeorological forecasts into the plans of the national civil protection system. The trend indicates a persistent increase in extreme heat in all three regions of Cuba, which makes measures to improve living conditions essential.