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Inumet issues yellow alert for severe thunderstorms across Uruguay
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Environment & Climate

Inumet issues yellow alert for severe thunderstorms across Uruguay

From El País · (8m ago) Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Uruguay's National Meteorological Institute (Inumet) issued a yellow alert for severe thunderstorms on Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
  • The alert covers several departments, including Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Paysandú, Río Negro, Soriano, and Tacuarembó, with potential for heavy rain, lightning, hail, and strong winds.
  • A cold front is expected to enter the country Wednesday night, bringing more widespread rain and storms, with significant rainfall accumulations predicted for the center-south, east, and northeast regions.

The National Meteorological Institute (Inumet) has issued a yellow alert for severe thunderstorms across several departments, highlighting the volatile weather conditions affecting Uruguay. Residents in areas like Cerro Largo, Colonia, and Durazno should prepare for intense electrical activity, heavy downpours, occasional hail, and strong winds. This alert underscores the unpredictable nature of our climate, reminding us to stay informed and take necessary precautions.

Cabe destacar que en zonas de tormentas se podrá registrar intensa actividad eléctrica acompañada de lluvias abundantes en cortos períodos, ocasional caída de granizo y rachas de vientos fuertes

— InumetDescribing the potential impacts of the yellow alert for thunderstorms.

The situation is expected to intensify as a cold front moves in Wednesday night, bringing further rain and storms throughout the country. Inumet forecasts significant rainfall accumulations, particularly in the center-south, east, and northeast regions, potentially reaching between 60 and 100 millimeters within a 12-hour period. This is a critical period for monitoring weather updates as the situation evolves.

Se esperan tormentas, algunas puntualmente fuertes, principalmente en el norte y la franja central del país. Estas tormentas podrán estar acompañadas de rachas de viento fuertes y lluvias intensas en cortos períodos (20 a 40 mm en tres horas)

— InumetDetailing the expected weather conditions for Tuesday afternoon and evening.

Meteorologists, including independent forecasters like Mario Bidegain and Guillermo Ramis, have corroborated Inumet's predictions. The confluence of severe thunderstorms and an approaching cold front, potentially leading to an extratropical cyclone, signals a week of challenging weather. Our local meteorological services are providing crucial, timely information to help safeguard our communities.

un frente frío ingresará al país generando tormentas fuertes, algunas severas, y lluvias abundantes en todo el territorio

— InumetExplaining the impact of the cold front expected from Wednesday night.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El País in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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