Hurricane Rafael, a powerful Category 3 hurricane, made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The storm’s arrival brought with it a surge of powerful winds that knocked out the entire country’s power grid, plunging Cuba into darkness. Forecasters had warned of the potential for “life-threatening” storm surges, winds, and flash floods, and their predictions unfortunately came true.
Before reaching Cuba, Rafael had already battered the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, leaving them drenched with rain and grappling with power outages. In the Cayman Islands, schools remained closed on Wednesday as officials urged residents to exercise caution due to rough seas and lingering flooding risks.
Rafael’s impact on Cuba was particularly devastating, given the country’s ongoing struggle to recover from another hurricane that struck just two weeks prior. The previous hurricane, which had claimed the lives of at least six people in eastern Cuba, had already left the country reeling.
In anticipation of Rafael’s arrival, the Cuban government issued a storm alert, urging residents to take precautions. Crews in Havana worked tirelessly to fortify buildings and clear debris from coastal areas, preparing for the anticipated flooding. Classes and public transportation were suspended in affected regions, and flights to and from Havana and Varadero were canceled.
Fearful of the storm’s power, thousands of people in western Cuba were evacuated as a preventative measure. Among those preparing for the worst was Silvia Pérez, a 72-year-old retiree living in a coastal area of Havana. As her neighbors moved appliances and furniture from ground-floor homes, Pérez diligently stocked up on water and food. “This is a night I don’t want to sleep through, between the battering air and the trees,” she said, expressing concern for her friends and family.
Forecasters predict the storm will weaken as it moves across Cuba, emerging into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane. The US State Department issued an advisory for Cuba on Tuesday, urging non-essential staff and American citizens to depart the island, and advising others to reconsider travel to Cuba due to the storm’s potential impact.
The storm’s arrival comes at a critical time for Cuba, as the country grapples with ongoing economic challenges and a recent surge in political unrest. The devastating impact of the hurricane is sure to further strain the nation’s already fragile resources and infrastructure.
As Rafael continues its westward journey, the focus shifts to the potential impact on Florida and nearby southeastern US regions. The Hurricane Center predicts storm surges in Florida could reach up to 3 feet in Dry Tortugas and between 1 and 2 feet in the Lower Florida Keys.
Rafael is the 17th named storm of the 2024 hurricane season, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted to be well above average. The agency forecasts between 17 and 25 named storms this season, with as many as 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.
