Violent storms tore across northwestern Uruguay on Wednesday night, October 7, 2026, with wind gusts reaching about 78 miles per hour in Salto. The storm damaged homes, schools and infrastructure, knocked down trees and power lines, and left nearly 5,000 customers without electricity Thursday morning.

The worst impacts were concentrated around Salto, where a powerful supercell brought hail, heavy rain and destructive winds. Windows burst at a public high school while classes were underway, and emergency officials received hundreds of calls as crews worked through the night to clear debris and restore power.

Farther south, Paysandú experienced significant flooding after intense rainfall, while Young and other parts of Río Negro were hit by strong winds and hail. Roofs were damaged on rural properties, vehicles were struck by hail, and debris temporarily blocked a major highway.

The storm was preceded by yellow and orange warnings from Uruguay's national weather service, Inumet. But the danger is now shifting toward the Uruguay River, which is rising as additional rain moves across the basin. Officials in Salto say evacuations could begin as early as Thursday or Friday, while the government is preparing for an extended period of flooding linked to a strong El Niño pattern.

In this video, we examine the destructive storm in Salto, the flooding and hail across Paysandú and Río Negro, the warnings issued before the storm, and the growing Uruguay River flood threat.

Global Weather covers natural disasters and extreme weather events as they develop, using sourced reporting and avoiding unsupported speculation.

CHAPTERS

00:20 — 78 MPH Winds Tear Through Salto
01:04 — Why Salto Faces the Uruguay River
01:47 — Supercell Brings Hail and Destructive Winds
02:29 — Salto Hit by Another Major Storm
03:14 — Roofs Ripped Apart Across the City
03:57 — School Window Bursts During Classes
04:40 — Nearly 5,000 Customers Lose Power
05:25 — Flooding Spreads Into Paysandú
06:10 — Hail Damages Homes and 30 Vehicles
06:54 — Uruguay Issues Orange Storm Warning
07:39 — Emergency Officials Warn Residents
08:23 — Cold Front Triggers Severe Storms
09:06 — El Niño Raises Uruguay's Flood Risk
09:51 — Evacuations Could Begin Near Salto
10:36 — Uruguay River Keeps Rising

SOURCES

El País Uruguay
Montevideo Portal
Subrayado
Inumet

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