Cuba Travel Guide

ext">The climatic conditions in Cuba are inThe term tropical cyclone is the generic name used
accordance to those existing in the subtropical zones,to designate all the systems of low pressure that are
which tends to be moderate due to the proximity offormed in the oceans, in homogeneous environments,
the island to the Tropic of Cancer. Another thing ingenerally in the tropical areas. The tropical cyclones
its favor is the long, narrow shape of the island whichare accompanied by an ample area of clouds, rains,
constantly receives trade winds and sea breezes.heavy showers and lightening. Its surface circulation
Cuba has a short winter, a period filled with massesof winds runs clockwise in the northern hemisphere,
of cold air coming from the north. Temperaturesoccurring all the way around in the southern
range from 20º C to 35º C during the whole year,hemisphere. The lifecycle of a hurricane can last more
going down in rare occasions to 10º C. The easternthan two weeks above the waters of the ocean and
part of the country enjoys warmer temperaturesthe atmospheric system can cover very long
than those registered in the western part, and thedistances. Each year, the average number of tropical
variations in temperature between day and night arestorms formed is around 10 on the surface of the
less marked in the coastal areas than inland. Just offAtlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of
the coast, the average temperature of the water isMexico; many of which never leave the waters of
higher than 25º C.the ocean.
Due to its geographic location, Cuba is subject to theTropical cyclones are classified according to the
hurricane season, which runs from June 1st tospeed of the maximum sustained winds (averaged
November 30th. During that period, these tropicalby minute) as follows:
bodies affect the island, accompanied by winds up toTropical depression: maximum sustained winds inferior
200km/h and very strong storms. The seasonto 39 mph.
precisely coincides with the rainy season in CubaTropical storm: maximum sustained winds between
(from May to October) opposite the dry season that39 mph to 72 mph.
goes from November to April.