Hurricanes and Tourism in Cuba

Hurricanes or tropical cyclones are the most dangerous weather events affecting Cuba. Despite the strong protective measures taken are the cause of loss of life and often cause considerable material losses whenever one directly affects the island, or even when hit directly without passing close enough to cause strong tides or heavy rains.

Hurricanes have caused natural disasters with the highest number of human losses of those who have records on the island:

- Hurricane Santa Cruz (1932, still not given names) with over 3 000 deaths, and

- Hurricane Flora (1963) with about 1 500 deaths

But what are hurricanes, how often they come to Cuba?

Hurricanes are low pressure systems with winds that rotate counter to the clockwise and toward its center and can reach speeds of over 300 Km / hour with devastating effects. They arise as the season in the Atlantic Ocean (43% of total) or in the Caribbean Sea (57% of the hurricanes) and travel west on what their paths usually lead to the islands of the Caribbean, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico or the United States, especially Florida and Gulf states. Cuba is located in a place of frequent path of hurricanes and is affected by an average every two years in the past two centuries (from 1800 to 2004) Cuba have beaten a total of 109 hurricanes, 28 of them Category 3 5, considered destructive.

Classification of hurricanes

Hurricanes are classified into 5 categories based on their wind speed at ground level, the categories on the Saffir-Simpson are:

- Category 1: 119 to 153 Km / h

- Category 2: 154 177 km / h

- Category 3: 178 to 208 km / h

- Category 4: 210 to 249 km / h

- Category 5: over 250 km / h

When hurricanes are more frequent?

Hurricanes are phenomena with strong seasonality season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, in Cuba the most dangerous months are October, followed by September, August and November.

So when you visit Cuba?

The best months to visit Cuba are from November to April are the months for a nearly ideal temperature and little rain, and because there is no threat of hurricanes in this period, with the exception of November which still falls within the season. However, the hurricane season coincides almost completely with the tourist season - with the exception of July and August-which translates into better prices for all public services and much less in hotels, resorts, restaurants and destinations tourism in general, which all together can be very attractive to many visitors that do not depend on holiday in July or August and do not fear the problems that can cause untimely arrival of a hurricane in Cuba.

Danger a tourist in Cuba in a hurricane?

No, absolutely not. There are several reasons why the dangers are minimal but non-existent:

- Hurricanes are weather phenomena are forecast several days in advance and given an hour by hour monitoring on TV and other media.

- The Civil Defense of the island is very well prepared for these events and has a long experience in these cases.

- Tourists will always be transferred to your hotel or resort in an area of ​​danger to a hotel or resort of equal or upgraded in a safe. The island is narrow but long, and when the West is affected by a hurricane in the East is quiet, and vice versa.

Finally, a hurricane is a unique experience ... especially if you are a tourist and has no properties on the island to lose ... if it comes, why not take the chance to experience?

More information on Cuba http://www.hicuba.com

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