The Cuba weather forecast is a bit different than some of it Caribbean island cousins, if for no other reason than the sheer size of the island.
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However one thing is consistent if you are considering a vacation to this forbidden (if you are from the United States) Caribbean island. Like the other Caribbean islands, the weather in Cuba and the four groups of smaller islands around it is blessed with a subtropical climate with plenty of sunshine and a short winter. The favorable temperatures and hundreds of great beaches make it a highly desirable tourist destination.
The average daytime temperature in the Cuban archipelago ranges from around 20°C (70°F) to over 30°C (86°F). Cold winds coming from the US occasionally usher in cold spells where the temperature drops to around 10° (50°F) for a day or two in spring and winter. The average winter temperature of around 21°C means that visitors are attracted to the islands all year round, making it a popular Caribbean island destination.
The weather in Cuba varies across the sprawling archipelago. Generally speaking, the western regions enjoy a warmer climate than the eastern regions. Visitors will also find that the contrast between daytime and nighttime temperatures varies, with colder nights relative to days in the interior of this Caribbean island.
Cuban summers can be hot but are relatively mild, with temperatures averaging about 27°C, although they can reach the higher thirties, with humidity in the Cuba weather forecast reaching around 80% between September and October.
North-easterly trade winds bring in cooling air, and air conditioning in many buildings in the urban centers tempers the worst of the Caribbean heat. April and May, though technically “low season” in vacation terms, offers some of the most pleasant Caribbean island weather, with warm temperatures, little rain and low humidity.
Although the southern parts of the island are more mountainous, the regional wind patterns bring more rain to the northern areas. Rainfall in Havana can be double that in the eastern regions and, as with any Caribbean island destination, torrential rains can occur at any time of year. The area around the city of Guantanamo in the southeast is the driest part of Cuba.
On average, annual rainfall in the Cuba weather forecast is about 52 inches (1300mm). Sixty percent of that rain falls in the rainy season, which extends from May to October. From December to March rainfall is low, averaging about 2 inches (50 mm) per month.
Like other Caribbean island destinations, the Cuba weather forecast is prone to tropical storms and cyclones, and lies in the Atlantic hurricane path. The hurricane threat corresponds broadly with the rainy season (May to October) but the peak incidence is between September and November.
The most serious hurricane to ravage Cuba in recent years was the Category 5 Hurricane Wilma, in 2005. Though it caused no direct loss of life in Cuba, over 350,000 people had to be evacuated and close to thirty billion dollars of damage resulted. The most destructive cyclone to hit Cuba was in 1936, with over 3,000 lives lost.
Cuba is indeed a high risk area for hurricanes. The year 2005 was a record year for Atlantic hurricanes generally, and Cuba’s Emergency Response System had to deal with four hurricanes and a tropical storm in 2008. However, Cuba prides itself on the advanced level and efficiency of its hurricane preparedness and enjoys favorable comparisons with Florida and other hurricane-prone areas of the US. Between 1996 and 2004 there were only 20 Cuban fatalities in six hurricanes.
All in all, the beautiful sandy beaches and the Cuba weather forecast make this a great Caribbean island vaction spot, and one I hope to get to visit someday soon.
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