The inhabitants of the Island woke up this Monday numb. The polar air mass that has been over the territory for several days has exacerbated the low temperatures, which, according to the official press, are setting a record for a month of January.
The lowest was recorded at the Indio Hatuey meteorological station, in the province of Matanzas, with 1.5 degrees Celsius, more typical of more northern latitudes than of the Caribbean, even at this time. In seven other stations, the thermometers also marked unusually low values: 3.1 degrees in Bainoa (Mayabeque), 3.2 in Colón (Matanzas), 3.5 in Jovellanos (Matanzas), 4.1 in Tapaste (Mayabeque), 4.2 in Jagüey Grande (Matanzas), 4.3 in Santo Domingo (Villa Clara) and 5 in Güines (Mayabeque).
Of the 68 stations in the country, 40 registered temperatures of less than 10 degrees.
Everyone who can stays at home and this Monday the classrooms were remarkably empty of students
In eastern Cuba, there are minimum values not recorded before in a month like this, such as 6.9 degrees in the Palenque de Yateras station (Guantánamo), 7.4 in La Jíquima (Holguín) or 9, 9 degrees from Manzanillo (Granma province).
To face this climate, Cubans lack not only custom, but adequate clothing. Very few people on the street wear a suitable coat, and most protect themselves from the cold with just a jacket and a long-sleeved sweater underneath. Everyone who can stays at home and this Monday the classrooms were remarkably empty of students.
Even in the queues to buy food, it was noticeable that many preferred to stay in their homes, even if that meant not being able to reach a little chicken or some bread. The winteriest day of this January marked a slower pace in bureaucratic procedures, urban transport and even the flow of vendors hawking their merchandise. As if the low temperatures had slowed down a daily life, which was already stumbling.
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