The month of May in Cuba is projected to experience maximum and minimum temperatures exceeding historical averages across all three regions of the country, a climate expert confirmed today.

Idelmis González, head of the Climate Center at the Institute of Meteorology, informed the newspaper Granma that while temperatures will rise, rainfall is expected to remain below monthly norms in the western region and near typical values in the central and eastern areas.

May marks the beginning of the wet season in Cuba, which concludes in October. This six-month period accounts for 74% of the nation’s annual rainfall. "Its onset does not occur simultaneously, as it usually begins in the eastern portion and progressively extends toward the west," González noted.

The wettest months in Cuba traditionally include May, June—which sees the highest annual accumulation—September, and October.

According to the specialist, most climate models indicate an increasing probability that a new El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event will begin to develop in the equatorial Pacific Ocean in July and persist until the end of the year.

While the eventual magnitude of the phenomenon remains uncertain, some forecasts suggest it could become strong. Conversely, other models, including the Cuban domestic model, predict the onset of ENSO for the month of November.

Should these conditions materialize, it would imply a significant shift in the behavior of primary meteorological variables, particularly concerning the hurricane season.

Generally, the reliability of such forecasts increases after the month of April; therefore, future updates are expected to provide greater precision. The Climate Center maintains continuous surveillance over this climatological event and will provide timely information regarding its evolution.