From 21°C to rain and cold: Uruguay’s spring-like spell is about to end

Uruguay’s stretch of unusually warm, sunny winter weather has an end date: Thursday. Meteorologists expect rain, storms and a sharp drop in temperatures as a cold front moves up from the south.

In Montevideo and the metropolitan area, the Uruguayan Meteorological Institute forecasts a minimum of 9°C and a maximum of 20°C. The Prado weather station recorded 21°C at 1 p.m., after a sunny morning that is expected to give way to periods of cloud.

Temperatures will ease slightly on Tuesday, with a forecast high of 17°C and a low of 9°C. On Wednesday, the maximum could return to 21°C, while northern parts of the country are also expected to reach about 20°C.

The change arrives on Thursday, when rain is forecast in Montevideo and temperatures begin to fall. The expected range is 9°C to 16°C that day, followed by 8°C to 14°C on Friday, 6°C to 11°C on Saturday and 5°C to 12°C on Sunday.

Meteorologist Mario Bidegain, citing Meteoblue forecasts, also projected highs of 19°C on Monday, 16°C on Tuesday and 21°C on Wednesday. He said Thursday could bring storms and less than 10 millimeters of accumulated rain. Citing the ECMWF model, he said the front would bring rain across much of the country, although totals would remain limited at roughly five to 10 millimeters.