During January and February thus far, Cuba has received greater rainfall than usual during this period, as a result of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation weather pattern. Only the region around Baracoa, in the province of Guantánamo, did not experience this variation, according to specialists from the National Institute of Water Resources (INRH).
Current forecasts note that although the phenomenon usually leads to a deficit in seasonal rainfall, the rainy season is expected to begin, as is normal, in the month of May, at least in the western portion of the island, though not necessarily in the central and eastern regions.
INRH specialist, MSc. Idelmis Tamara González García, stated to Granma that the month of March may be quite changeable, with the possibility of severe weather and coastal flooding associated with cold fronts.
Reservoirs have benefited from the rain, having reached an average 52% of their capacity nationally. Water storage in the central region of the country, however, stands at only 13% of the historical average, while the situation in the city of Santiago de Cuba remains difficult, since 59 of its sources are irregular and 690,928 inhabitants are being supplied with water by tank trucks.
(Granma)