Cuba Next: Hurricane Warnings, What Travelers Should Do
Key points
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas with a Tropical Storm Warning for Camagüey
- Flight operations at Santiago de Cuba and Holguín are canceled today with schedule thinning or suspensions likely at Camagüey and knock-on delays at Havana
- Cuba's transport ministry has suspended air, rail, and bus services to the east with maritime services curtailed as seas build
- U.S. Embassy guidance urges travelers to shelter in place, avoid flood areas, and monitor official alerts
Impact
- Flights
- Expect cancellations at SCU and HOG, reduced or suspended service at CMW, and misconnections through HAV
- Airports
- Arrive early if roads are passable, carry printed itineraries and ID, and be prepared for terminal power or systems outages
- Ferries And Ports
- Assume eastern sailings and small craft are suspended until port assessments are completed
- Havana Connections
- If you are connecting through HAV, rebook to later dates or different routings to avoid missed connections
- What To Do Now
- Monitor NHC and INSMET updates, follow Cuban Civil Defense instructions, and act on airline notices immediately
Eastern Cuba entered the most dangerous phase of Hurricane Melissa on October 29, with damaging winds, flooding rains, and coastal surge moving across the region. The National Hurricane Center reports a Hurricane Warning for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, and Las Tunas, and a Tropical Storm Warning for Camagüey. The core is tracking north-northeast today, keeping hurricane conditions over parts of the east through tonight, while tropical-storm conditions extend west into Camagüey and the Windward Passage toward the southeastern Bahamas.
What this means in practical terms today
Travelers in Santiago, Holguín, Guantánamo, Granma, Las Tunas, and parts of Camagüey should expect periods of hurricane-force gusts, prolonged heavy rain, and life-threatening coastal surge where onshore winds align with bays and inlets. Cuban radar and forecast discussions this morning placed the center inland in eastern Holguín, with forward motion to the northeast continuing through the day. Conditions will improve only gradually from south to north overnight.
Airports: closures and schedule thinning
On first mention, full names follow Adept style. Antonio Maceo Airport (SCU) in Santiago de Cuba and Frank País International Airport (HOG) in Holguín have canceled flights for October 28-29, with local airport notices confirming suspensions. Ignacio Agramonte International Airport (CMW) in Camagüey sits under a Tropical Storm Warning, so expect reduced schedules and potential last-minute cancellations as bands sweep the province. José Martí International Airport (HAV) in Havana remains outside the warning area, but misconnections and crew displacement from the east will ripple into Havana's banks today and tonight.
If you are already ticketed through SCU or HOG today, do not travel to the airport. Rebooking will happen by phone, app, or airline counters once systems stabilize. Travelers routing via CMW should monitor airline apps for push notifications and prepare for same-day schedule changes.
Ground and sea transport in the east
Cuba's Ministry of Transport has suspended air, rail, and long-distance bus services to and from the eastern provinces ahead of the storm, with maritime services curtailed as seas build. Practically, that means limited options to reposition by land today, and small-craft advisories effectively shutting down local ferries and harbor movements until post-storm inspections. Expect port authorities to conduct damage and debris surveys before reopening commercial piers in Santiago de Cuba, Moa, and other eastern harbors.
U.S. Embassy safety guidance
The U.S. Embassy in Havana advises travelers to shelter in place, avoid flooded areas, monitor official alerts, and keep devices charged. Embassy alerts this week specifically flagged the eastern airports, including Holguín and Santiago de Cuba, with Camagüey as a potential impact area depending on the track. If you are a U.S. citizen, enroll in STEP, keep passports and ID dry and accessible, and follow local Civil Defense instructions.
How to translate watches and warnings into actions
Hurricane Warning (Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, Holguín, Las Tunas), today into tonight: stay off roads, move to interior rooms away from windows, and expect airport closures, power interruptions, and no surface transport until authorities complete safety checks. Airlines will generally issue fee-free changes for canceled or significantly delayed flights, but processing may lag while systems and connectivity recover.
Tropical Storm Warning (Camagüey), today into tonight: flying may still be possible in short windows, but bands can force operational halts without notice. Build multi-hour buffers on any connection through Havana, and consider shifting dates if your itinerary requires same-day connections from the east.
Where to monitor reliable updates
- National Hurricane Center (NHC), for authoritative watches, warnings, and timing, updated every few hours.
- INSMET/Cuba's weather service, for province-level forecast tracks and radar updates.
- Cuban Civil Defense channels and national media for local phases and movement restrictions.
- U.S. Embassy Havana safety alerts for foreign travelers and contact options.
- Airport operator posts for operational notices at Santiago (SCU) and Holguín (HOG).
Background
Hurricane warnings mean hurricane conditions are expected within the area, generally within 36 hours. Even as Melissa weakens over land, its rain shield and surge can remain dangerous. Post-landfall, authorities will stage inspections of runways, navaids, terminals, bridges, and ports. Airports reopen only after debris clearance, power checks, and staff call-backs, which can stretch into the next day depending on damage and access.
Final thoughts
Travel in eastern Cuba will be highly constrained through tonight. Prioritize safety, preserve battery and potable water, and work rebookings once airlines restore operations. If your plans depend on a same-day connection via José Martí International, shift dates now to avoid a cascade of missed segments.
Sources
- National Hurricane Center, Public Advisory and warnings, October 29, 2025
- INSMET, forecast updates and tropical cyclone advisories, October 29, 2025
- ACN, Ministry of Transport suspensions to eastern provinces, October 27, 2025
- Holguín Airport and local media notices of cancellations, October 28-29, 2025
- U.S. Embassy Havana weather alerts and safety guidance, October 27-28, 2025