Uruguay under alert: a severe cold front and an extratropical cyclone arrive

By Ronnie Fernandez

The Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (Inumet) has issued a special warning to the population due to the imminence of a meteorologically complex week. The country is preparing to face two successive phenomena: first, a cold front that will cause widespread storms and, subsequently, the deepening of a extratropical cyclone in Uruguay which will generate sustained winds and very strong gusts, along with a marked drop in temperature. This diagnosis is shared by independent meteorologists, who warn about the severity of the events.

Atmospheric instability will begin to manifest itself starting this Tuesday, but the most significant events are expected between Wednesday and Saturday. Authorities and experts recommend taking extreme precautions against the possibility of structural damage, coastal flooding and increased waves.

Chronology of the storm: from heavy rains to cyclonic winds

The first adverse event will be associated with the passage of an active cold front. According to projections, This system will generate abundant rainfall and storms, some occasionally severe, throughout the national territory between Wednesday and Thursday. Inumet warns about accumulated rain significant, intense electrical activity and the possibility of hail falling. Experts point out that in some areas the accumulations could be very high in short periods of time.

Once the cold front displaces the warm air mass, The weather situation will take a turn. Starting Friday, and with higher intensity during on saturday, the formation and deepening of a extratropical cyclone south of Uruguay, over the Atlantic Ocean, will become the main risk factor. This phenomenon will cause a significant increase in wind intensity, mainly affecting the coastal areas of the south and east of the country. The sustained winds from the western sector will be strong, with gusts that could reach and even exceed 100 km/h in Punta del Este and 80 km/h in Montevideo.

Impact on the coast and thermal decline

He extratropical cyclone in Uruguay not only will it bring intense winds, but will also cause an abrupt decrease in the temperature. Meteorologists warn that, after the system passes, the cold air mass of polar origin will be installed over the country, generating very low thermal sensations due to the persistence of the wind. Saturday is shaping up to be the coldest day of the week, with temperatures that will be at typically winter levels.

This event will also have a significant impact on the Río de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean, where a considerable increase in waves and the possibility of flooding in low areas of the coast is expected due to the combination of strong wind and high tide. It is recommended that boats take extreme precautions and that the population avoid traveling through exposed coastal areas.

Matching forecasts and key data

Both Inumet and meteorologists Guillermo Ramis and Mario Bidegain agree on the seriousness of the situation. Ramis catalogs what will happen on Saturday as “a storm,” emphasizing the strength of the winds, especially in Punta del Este. Bidegain, for its part, warns about a “complex meteorological situation” with accumulated rain that could reach 200 mm in some areas and gusts of wind very powerful.

• Rains: Accumulated between 60 and 100 mm in 12 hours between Wednesday and Thursday, with electrical activity and hail.

• Winds: Gusts of between 80 and 100 km/h on Saturday, mainly in coastal areas.

• Temperature: Marked descent, with thermal sensations very low on the weekend.