HAVANA — Cuba has recorded its lowest temperature ever, with a weather station in the province of Matanzas logging 0 degrees Celsius (32°F) on February 3, 2026, the first time the island nation has reached the freezing point in its meteorological history, authorities said.
The Cuban Institute of Meteorology (INSMET) confirmed that a station at Indio Hatuey, in the municipality of Perico, Matanzas, reported the historic reading early Tuesday morning, breaking the previous record low of 0.6°C set in 1996.
INSMET officials attributed the unprecedented chill to an intense cold front that swept polar air from North America into the Caribbean, a rare meteorological event for the tropical nation. The cold wave has brought unusually low temperatures across much of the country, with at least 32 weather stations reporting minimums below 10°C (50°F) during the early hours of February 3.
In several areas, frost has been observed on crops, an extraordinary sight in Cuba’s typically warm climate, with meteorologists describing the conditions as “winter‑like days across the entire national territory.”
The cold outbreak is linked to a broader pattern of extreme weather that has affected the region in recent days. A severe Arctic blast brought record cold to parts of the United States last month, contributing to widespread low temperatures across the Southeast and Florida before moving southward toward the Caribbean.
Climate records in Cuba date back to the mid‑19th century, though data over recent decades has become more consistent and reliable, making this first‑ever documented freeze especially notable for scientists and forecasters.
Meteorologists say the temperature drop reflects unusual atmospheric conditions, combining high‑pressure systems and cold air masses that rarely penetrate so far into the tropics. While daytime temperatures are expected to rebound into more typical ranges, the historic low stands as a stark reminder of the extremes possible even in tropical regions.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
