Radar images from the deadly tornado that hit Cuba
Severe thunderstorms swept Cuba overnight, and have been blamed for at least three deaths there, while more than 170 other have been hospitalized, according to our news story, which has a high-resolution photo gallery.
A woman takes pictures of the disaster left behind by a tornado in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba has its own weather radar, but doesn't provide archives. The U.S.' Key West NEXRAD radar is so far away that it's looking up around 11,000 feet when the beam goes over Havana, but it nonetheless yielded some interesting radar images. The first is reflectivity, showing extremely heavy rain, especially for that height.
The second is a storm-relative velocity image, showing strong rotation (red meets green), which is confirmed by the GRAnalyst Rotational image.
Tornadoes are likely not uncommon in Cuba, but like Florida they can happen year-round but are often weak. Mountains as high as almost any in the eastern United States, however, likely disrupt thunderstorm strength in some places, which could put them in a better place than Florida. Because of the government, there is almost no research indicating Cuba tornado climatology. The official statement from the Cuba Meteorological Service reads (loosely translated):
A car overturned by a tornado lays smashed on top of a street pole in Havana, Cuba, Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
The line of storms earlier caused a 55-mph gust at a utility station in Key West, Florida, while a weak tornado was confirmed in Hialeah, near Miami. Here is a video showing high winds nearby:
Strong winds whipped through this parking lot as a tornado reportedly touched down in Hialeah, Florida, on Jan. 27.
This map shows the location of the local storm report, which was the tornado, along with the warning issued:
