Heat waves in Uruguay

The Uruguayan summer (December to March) brings increasingly frequent heat waves, with several days in a row of high temperatures both by day and at night.

Humid heat

Because the river and ocean are close, heat in Uruguay is humid. That raises the feels-like temperature and makes sleeping hard when overnight temperatures stay high: the most underrated risk of a heat wave.

Who is most affected

Infants, older people, outdoor workers and those with chronic illnesses are the most vulnerable. INUMET issues extreme-heat advisories when the risk is high.

What to do

• Drink water even when not thirsty, and avoid alcohol.
• Stay out of the sun between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Air the house at night and at dawn, and keep blinds down during the day.