Weather alerts issued for atmospheric river in Uruguay and El Niño impacts

Meteorologists are monitoring significant weather patterns across South America, including an atmospheric river in northern Uruguay and the ongoing evolution of the El Niño phenomenon.

In Uruguay, an atmospheric river—a narrow corridor of concentrated water vapor—is expected to bring heavy and potentially very strong storms to the northern region. The department of Artigas, particularly the area of Bella Unión near the confluence of the Uruguay and Cuareim rivers, is under high alert. The Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology has issued special reports regarding these potential storms, which may persist from Sunday through Wednesday.

In Argentina, specialists from the National University of the Northeast (UNNE) are tracking El Niño's impact on the Paraná River basin. While El Niño generally increases humidity across South America, its effects are not uniform. Experts are contrasting data from the NOAA, European models, and local services to monitor rapid-response watercourses like the Uruguay and Iguazú rivers, which can experience quick flooding due to localized precipitation.