Locals in Santiago de Cuba continue its Vigilance of Hurricane Activity

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Oct 4 (acn) Meteorologists from Santiago de Cuba are on alert due to the high temperatures of the ocean, low levels of dust in the Saharan Desert and the neutrality of the Niño phenomenon (ENOS), all favorable conditions for hurricanes.

Meteorology engineer of the Provincial Weather Forecast Group in Santiago de Cuba, Lucia Garcia told ACN that the population must continue to prepare and follow the information given in the mass media.

Garcia emphasized that since 1997 there have been 13 seasons that have exceeded the historic average of 12 hurricanes, including 2017 with great influence of the ENOS climate pattern.

The ocean is still very hot in all of the tropical strip and the Atlantic basin as well as the conditions in the Equatorial strip of the Pacific Ocean with a tendency in the appearance of the negative phase of ENOS, known as La Niña.

According to the expert, the events in the Pacific have repercussions in the atmosphere over the Atlantic, when we refer to El Niño, due to the warming of the waters; and also when cooling, La Niña, in addition to the average temperatures.

These situations cause weak winds in the superior atmosphere over the Atlantic, favoring the development of a hurricane which is the current case, together with low levels of dust from the Saharan Desert, inhibiting the progress of hurricanes because the particles absorb the humidity in the air.

Models refer that ENOS in the Equatorial Pacific indicate that the neutrality will remain with a 60 percent tendency in the appearance of La Niña.

Garcia pointed out that at this moment there is a high content of humanity over the area where Cuba is located and the beginning of a natural stage of high hurricane activity for the country in the month of October.

In the current circumstances, any disturbance can generate a powerful hurricane including after the end of the season on November 30th said the expert.

He added that Cuban experts maintain a close look at any tropical storms that are formed off the coast of Africa and we also monitor the Gulf of Mexico, the tropical strip and Atlantic basin, with satellite images and information similar to the specialized institutions in the world.

Nine specialists from the Provincial Weather Forecast Group work 24 hours a day in rotating shifts of two persons, but with a threat of an extreme phenomenon work is strengthened with colleagues from other departments mainly women and youth, said Garcia.