Irma and crop damage

[dangolf18]

Any word on how Hurricane Irma will affect Cuba's crop or aging tobacco?

[Corylax18]

Should have little to no affect on the plants themselves. We aren't into the growing season yet, so besides some seedbeds, there probably isnt a whole lot growing right now. 

Aging tobacco will be another story. That greatly depends on quite a few things, Punch Joes post (copied below) regarding the storage warehouses of Havana provides a lot of information on the buildings where the tobacco is stored and aged. They are mostly large, stone warehouses that look impervious to all but the strongest winds. Storm surge is a whole different ball game. 

The predicted tracks I've seen show Havana and Pinar being outside of the direct line of fire, but still well within the storms effective area. It could end up passing right by or doing serious damage. If it hits Cuba hard, it would make sense that resources would be diverted away from tobacco framing and towards recovery, so that could end up having some affect on output. Either way, lets hope it has a minimal affect on as few people as possible.

[Corylax18]

 

[JohnS]

I must acknowledge @Corylax18's thorough reply and I only wish to add that Cuba is highly adept at dealing with hurricanes, due to their vulnerability and history. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew hit the east with minimal consequences dur to good planning beforehand.

In regards to crops, we will know for sure Friday afternoon and Saturday. The hurricane may brush the north coast of Cuba and may/may not have catastrophic consequences on the Pinar del Rio province, where the quality Vuelta Abejo tobacco region is located, to the west.

Florida will then be a 50/50 chance of bearing the brunt of this hurricane.