Argentina Weather - Rio de la Plata

Created by doina. Last modified on 2002-11-25 13:35:19
Contributors: Luis Girado
Topic: Jimmy Cornell Books and Boats
Countries: Argentina, Uruguay

Congratulations for your site. It is very useful.

I am writing to you because I have been reading World Cruising Routes, and found an important mistake regarding Argentinian weather and the Rio de la Plata. It says in the book that north winds bring good weather, but this is exactly the opposite.

I´ve been sailing this area for 25 years and know very well that steady north winds (hot air), brings for sure a "Pampero", seen as a long, dark, horizontal rolling cloud. These storms are violent, but short, SW winds for no more than 10 hours, and are more frequent in Sept - Dec. They come with high pressure and cold air, leaving very little depth in the river. The real threat to this area is the South East wind called "Sudestada" that blows 40 to 50 knots for 3 up to 7 days bringing high tides and strong currents throughout the Uruguayan rocky coast. The villages along the coast at the province of Rocha, on the Eastern side of Uruguay, like Valizas, Punta del Diablo, Aguas Dulces, Polonio, etc. were founded by shipwrecked sailors. The villages are a great place to relax hearing stories, while your boat is secure in the Port of La Paloma. The "Sudestada" is more frequent in June - Oct.

Luis Girado