The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season Was For Cuba What 2005 Was To The U.S.

After two relatively quiet years in the Atlantic Tropical Basin, things did pick up again in 2008. As of today, there have been 17 depressions, 16 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes. A major hurricane, one with winds of Category Three strength or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, occurred at least once over five straight months, which set a new record that surpassed the one made back in 2005. Speaking of the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season, this soon to be finished season was much like 2005 for the communist island nation of Cuba.

Over the years and centuries, Cuba has seen its share of big storms such as what would become the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, Hurricane Frederic (1979), Hurricane Charley (2004), and Hurricane Dennis (2005). However, the island, which boasts of high mountains that reach some 8,000 feet into the air, hasn’t had a season like this in a very long time. There were at least four different storms that affected Cuba. Two of them struck in the same location just about a week apart. Fay was the first storm to affect the island with heavy rains and gusty tropical storm force winds. Then, Gustav blew through with 150 mile per hour winds in the area of the Isle of Youth on the Friday and Saturday before Labor Day.

Like the Great Galveston Storm of 1900, Hurricane Ike passed through Cuba on its way to its final destination, struck the same location as Gustav about a week later. So, within a three or four week span, the communist nation, which is still going through a period of transition after Fidel Castro stepped down due to health reasons a couple years ago, was battered by heavy rains and wind from three tropical storms including two major hurricanes. Recently, another major storm affected the island when Category Four strength Paloma struck the eastern portion of Cuba a couple weeks ago with 145 mph winds before heading out to sea and dissipating. In 2005, the United States suffered a similar fate when four major hurricanes struck its coastline over a span of four months with Dennis (July), Katrina (August), Rita (September), and Wilma (October). Three of those four storms were Category Five strength at one point before weakening.

Hurricane Ike was the worst hurricane to strike anywhere along the U.S. Coastline since Katrina, which is now the costliest disaster on record in U.S History. Since 1995, the Atlantic has been undergoing a period of increased activity in the Atlantic. Only 1997 and 2006, which were El Nino years, were either average, or below average seasons. This era of very busy activity is expected to continue for more years to come.