With daily averages of 60° F (15° C) during the day and rarely going below zero at night in the city, Uruguay’s climate in winter* sounds wonderfully mild, right? So why am I f-f-f-freezing?
Over a decade living here tells me that this is down to visitors from the Northern Hemisphere looking at the temperatures for June to August (winter in the Southern Hemisphere) and not preparing for coastal Uruguay’s bone-penetrating humidity (read damp).
They see 15° C and think.. sandals!
Why does it feel colder than you’d expect?
Jules Verne was reporting on the wicked Pampero wind back in 1868. It’s a polar front from the South Atlantic which affects Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil in the South’s winter months.
In Uruguay we mostly feel its effects on the temperature more than the wind itself. It feels so damp because of our proximity to the vast River Plate and the Atlantic Ocean.
Winter in Uruguay is exhilarating
The days may feel cold but they are usually gorgeously sunny. Even during the coldest months of July and August, the average sunlight hours are typically 6-7 hours a day. It’s rare to have rain for more than a few days in a row.
There are frequent Indian summers when we are thrown back into a mini-summer period for three or four days and everyone gets their t-shirts out again. And sun-traps are easy to find.
A visit to the lighthouse in Colonia in winter. Look! Everyone is in t-shirts! Photo: Guru’Guay
What to wear in winter in Uruguay
These are the Guru’s essential tips to dressing to enjoy winter in Uruguay. Take them to heart and avoid the sniffles.
- Layers, layer, layers – the sun comes out, you boil, the sun goes in, you are suddenly freezing again. Choose several layers instead of one thick one. If you wear one thick one, when the sun comes out you boil. And then you will end up taking that off and you catch a cold.
- Warm footwear, especially boots, and gloves. You will not regret this.
- Hats and wind-breakers – combat that wicked Pampero should it blow.
And don’t forget to buy yourself a pure Uruguayan wool cape. Just for good measure.
*The winter in the Southern Hemisphere is June, July and August.
More winter tips
Photos: Guru’Guay
[Article first published: Jun 9, 2014. Lots of people read it, so we keep it as up to date as possible]
Great blog. Congratulations! You are providing good and reliable information over Uruguay. I read your articles and I am proud you have adopted this country. People like you have a good nature and that is already a lot.
Thanks so much. The most helpful and interesting information about winter climate.
Any recommendations or referrals for rentals for one month (mid-June to mid-July) for one person (adult).?
I went to Uruguay in October – everyone kept apologising to me for the “cold” weather
That’s so funny, Lisa. And how ‘cold’ was it??
Madame Guru.
I greatly enjoy your treasure trove of info. My first trip to Montevideo was in 1988. In those days you could do a city tour by bus that included the fort on the hill in the Cerro barrio. Is that a no go zone now? I was in town last July. I flew into Cordoba and flew out of MVD. Shout out to EGA for the service between the two places. Also spent a few day in Mina Clavero. I have over the past 33 years been to Uruguay about or 8 times. Driven over most of it. My info now is dated….
Hi Richard, people still go to El Cerro to see the fort, and in fact you can see that my husband took The Vacation Rental Show’s Matt Landau to see a match there! All the best, Karen (AKA Madame Guru)
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