Climate Uruguay
Uruguay has a humid, oceanic subtropical climate, with moderate temperatures and regular rainfall throughout the year. The country is in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are reversed from those in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer, which corresponds to the period from December to March, is generally hot and humid. Its temperatures oscillate between 22 and 30 °C. This is when the high season begins and the coast is invaded by Brazilian and Argentinean vacationers who come to enjoy the paradisiacal beaches and the safety of the area. It is also at this time that the price of accommodation, meals and activities skyrockets, sometimes tripling. It is therefore essential to book in advance.
Seasons and atmospheric conditions
Although quite warm due to the constant supply of tropical humidity from the trade winds, the Uruguayan climate varies significantly by season. Indeed, seasonal variations are quite pronounced, but extreme temperatures are rare. Its humid subtropical climate is comparable to that of the southeastern United States, and its oceanic climate is similar to that of northern France. Summer begins in December and ends in March. Average temperatures range from 22 to 28°C. Around New Year's Eve, temperatures can reach 38°C. During this period, be careful and protect yourself adequately if you stay in the sun for more than 15 minutes. Summer is also a good time to visit the coastal areas, as many resorts close in the fall. This is a good time to visit the cities that are constantly animated by cultural events, especially Montevideo, which has a vibrant nightlife and music scene during this period. Fall begins in February and ends in March. It is around this time that it is most advisable to visit the country, which is then much quieter. Indian summers are frequent, so the waters are warmer after heating up all summer. Then comes the winter, which starts in June and ends in September, with average temperatures quite cool, fluctuating between 10 and 16 °C. No tourist comes to Uruguay during this cold and rainy period. Although it happens very rarely, temperatures sometimes drop below zero during the night. The average amount of sunshine is still quite pleasant, 7 to 8 hours per day, although it may discourage sun and beach lovers. Finally, spring (from September to November) offers a mild climate and is ideal for visiting the flourishing and sunny countryside. However, the weather might be a bit cold for swimming. Finally, as the abundance of water that encompasses the country may suggest, humidity and fog are common.
Meteorological phenomena
The country is exposed to various types of weather phenomena, such as floods, droughts, cyclones and tornadoes. Its coasts are located in the middle of two major currents that struggle to impose themselves on each other. The cold current from the Falkland Islands is opposed to the warm current from Brazil, which results in a very variable climate. Moreover, as there are no mountain ranges, equatorial and polar air masses have free access to the country, which often causes very hot summers and very cool winters for its latitude. The country experienced record temperatures during two consecutive heat waves in late November and early December 2022. The thermometer was 42.7°C. The most frequent and severe phenomenon is flooding, usually caused by the overflow of rivers and streams, lakes and reservoirs as a result of weather events generating persistent rainfall(temporal). Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with annual rainfall ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 mm. Heavy rainfall can cause water levels to rise very quickly (from a few minutes to a few hours) and landslides. In addition, Uruguay is located entirely in the central axis of the South American tornado corridor, which is the second largest area of tornado incidence in the world after the southwestern United States. The winds that usually blow strongly are a characteristic of the Uruguayan climate. They can be sudden and very pronounced. The predominant winds are those from the north, dry and warm, while those from the pampas and the south are cold and humid. The winds coming from the ocean, however, allow to soften in summer the often very high temperatures. The pampero is a strong southwest wind that blows over the pampas at any time of the year, but occurs more frequently in winter. It results in penetrating humidity, a considerable drop in temperature, and heavy rain and gusts that can last up to 3 days. This meteorological phenomenon also affects the water level of the River Plate. Finally, cyclones tend to develop over Uruguay, move towards the southeast and intensify over the Atlantic Ocean.
Climate change
In recent years, climate has entered the Uruguayan political agenda like never before. Climate change indicators point to catastrophic scenarios where the frequency of natural disasters would increase dramatically if no measures were put in place. And although the country is recognized as a leader in South America in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it remains vulnerable to industrial activities in neighboring countries. With approximately 93% of the population living in urban areas, 70% of them in coastal areas, sea level rise is an obvious concern. At present, the country has nearly 12,000 hectares at risk from rising average sea levels and 28,000 km2 of erosion losses. This affects not only the agricultural production, which is the main productive and economic sector of the country, but also the tourism sector. For these reasons, Uruguay has adopted numerous voluntary mitigation and resilience actions in the face of climate change, especially in the energy sector (the country currently produces more than 98% of its electricity from renewable sources). In 2015, the country became a signatory to the Paris Agreement and similarly, in 2021, the President of the Republic, Luis Lacalle Pou, accompanied by the Minister of Environment Adrián Peña as well as the Ministers of Economy, Industry and Livestock presented a long-term climate strategy aimed at achieving the ambitious goal ofCO2 neutrality by 2050.
