Weathering US-Cuba Political Storms: José Rubiera PhD Cuba's Chief Weather Forecaster

Full disclosure: chief weather forecaster is not his official title, but rather one affectionally conferred on Dr Rubiera by the Cuban people, who look to him not only in times of peril, but also to learn about the science of meteorology. Anyone who has taken a taxi in Cuba during hurricane season (June 1 to November 30), and bothered to ask the driver, will receive a clear explanation about how hurricanes are formed, what the Saffir-Simpson scale is all about, and how the season is shaping up-all courtesy of Dr Rubiera's talent for communication during nightly weather forecasts and special broadcasts. It's no exaggeration to say that he is something of an icon in Cuba, a man people trust. Now, he is retired as chief of forecasting at Cuba's Meteorology Institute, but he stays on as an advisor, and since 1989 represents Cuba's Meteorological Service as the Vice Chairperson of the World Meteorological Organization's Hurricane Committee for Region IV (North America, Central America and the Caribbean). He also keeps a spot on nightly news and hosts two TV shows of his own: Global Weather and Weather in the Caribbean. And his PhD in meteorology serves him well as full professor at the University of Havana in-what else?-meteorology communications. Finally, he has been a driving force in Cuba for collaboration with Miami's National Hurricane Center (NHC) and other US meteorologists (in fact, the Chairperson of the Region IV Committee is the head of the NHC). But, as he says over a cup of rich Cuban coffee, it all started with a two-year-old in a yellow sweater.