Metsul Alerts to 'New Wave of Storms' and 'Gales' Affecting Uruguay and Rio Grande do Sul

Brazil's meteorological agency, Metsul, has issued a stark warning about an impending "new wave of storms" poised to bring severe weather to Uruguay and Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The agency forecasts strong winds and heavy rains, with the "wave" expected to begin impacting countries in the Rio de la Plata Basin starting Friday afternoon.

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The "wave" will begin in the countries of the Cuenca del Plata. Storms with a high probability of strong winds in Rio Grande do Sul during the weekend.

According to Metsul meteorologist Luis F. Nachtigall, Rio Grande do Sul could experience storms with a high probability of strong winds throughout the weekend, peaking between Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. The instability is predicted to commence in the Rio de la Plata region on Friday afternoon and evening, forming a warm front accompanied by substantial rainfall, frequent lightning, severe thunderstorms, hail, and damaging winds.

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It is expected that a warm front will form with a lot of rain, high frequency of lightning, strong to severe thunderstorms, hail and strong winds.

As this weather system moves, it is expected to transition into a cold front, bringing rain and severe weather to Uruguay. The forecast indicates the storms will start in the southwest of the country and spread across the entire nation by early Saturday morning. Uruguay's own meteorological institute, Inumet, has corroborated these warnings with a special alert for severe thunderstorms, predicting rainfall accumulation between 40 and 60 mm, with potential for higher localized amounts, along with very strong wind gusts, hail, intense electrical activity, and heavy downpours in short periods.

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During the event, precipitation accumulations of between 40 and 60 mm are expected, with records that could be punctually higher. In the areas affected by the storms, very strong wind gusts, hail, intense electrical activity, and abundant rainfall in short periods may be recorded.