Cuba experienced a historic event as temperatures dropped to zero degrees Celsius for the first time ever on the island, as reported by the Institute of Meteorology. The meteorological station in Matanzas province recorded this unprecedented freezing point, setting a new national record. Previously, the lowest temperature recorded in Cuba was 0.6 degrees Celsius back in 1996.
The extreme cold was attributed to a strong cold front carrying polar air from North America into the Caribbean, causing frost to form on crops in Matanzas, a rare occurrence in the typically warm and tropical climate of Cuba.
In the United States, a severe cold snap in late January led to 13 hypothermia-related deaths in New York. The city experienced a prolonged period of sub-32 degree Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius) weather, marking a significant weather event in its history. Additionally, a storm impacted the southern U.S., causing iguanas in Florida to become cold-stunned and fall from trees.
Cuba, which has been keeping meteorological records since the mid-19th century, has seen more reliable data collection since the latter half of the 20th century.
