The arrival of an intense polar cold wave once again put the spotlight on the possibility of rare winter phenomena being recorded in Uruguayincluding sleet. In recent days, meteorologists have warned about the entry of air of polar origin, with very low temperatures, rain and thermal sensations that could be close to 0 °C or even below in some areas of the country.
However, the possibility of sleet depends on a combination of very specific atmospheric factors and not just being very cold is enough.
“It is not ruled out, we have to watch it calmly, some downpour in the form of sleet,” predicted the meteorologist. Nubel Cisneros in dialogue with Subrayado (Channel 10).
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What is sleet and what are the necessary conditions for the phenomenon to be recorded in Uruguay?
The sleet It is a mixed precipitation, formed by raindrops and small grains of ice or partially melted snow. It occurs when snowflakes form in the upper layers of the atmosphere, but pass through a layer of warmer air before reaching the ground, so they arrive partially molten.
For this phenomenon to occur in Uruguay Several conditions must match:
- The entry of a very cold polar air mass.
- Temperatures close to 0 °C on the surface.
- The presence of humidity and precipitation.
- An atmosphere cold enough in the middle and lower layers so that the snow does not completely melt before hitting the ground.
Specialists explain that these situations are rare in the country, although not impossible. The highest probability scenarios tend to be concentrated in elevated areas in the north and center of the territory, especially in the mountains and areas located more than 100 meters above sea level.
Weather in Uruguay today: what you need to know according to Inumet for this Tuesday, June 23
He Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology (Inumet) A cold day is expected for this Tuesday, June 23, with the presence of showers in much of the territory, moderate to strong wind and frost in some inland regions.
Maximum temperatures will range between 11 °C and 14 °C, while minimum temperatures will drop to 1 °C in the north and west of the country.
