Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026 · evening edition, updated 4:47 p.m.
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Montevideo tonight
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41°
F
feels like 35°F
15°
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5°
C
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Partly cloudy
Montevideo Insider
Uruguay, in English
The dollar
40,00
pesos for each US$1 you bring in
40,40 to buy a dollar back
40,40 to buy a dollar back
euro in
46,08
Evening edition
Weather
10° / 5°C · 50° / 41°F
Feels 6°C · 42°F. No rain.
Open today
Closed
Tuesday — national holiday.
Dollar
40,00 / 40,40
buy / sell · 44 casas.
Buses
512 on 107 lines
4:47 p.m. · no stoppage called.
Since this morning
Open a story for our summary; “Read more” opens the source
Weather · Day 2 of cold snap
Overcast and cold today; thunderstorms likely Thursday
Temperatures reached a high of only 10 C (50 F) this afternoon, with winds making it feel as cold as 1 C (35 F) this morning.
Inumet · Meteored · Open-Meteo
What it means
Montevideo is currently 10 C (49 F) under partly cloudy skies, feeling like 6 C (42 F) with moderate winds of 18 km/h (11 mph). Today's high reached 10 C (50 F), but wind chill made it feel as low as 1 C (35 F) early this morning. Humidity stands at 75 percent. The cold snap that settled over the country yesterday continues through tonight.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) will bring light drizzle and slightly warmer temperatures, with a high of 15 C (58 F) and a low of 7 C (44 F), though it will still feel as cold as 3 C (38 Fri) in the morning. Expect about one millimeter of rain and winds up to 22 km/h.
Thursday brings the week's main weather event: thunderstorms are forecast for both morning and afternoon, with 6.7 millimeters (0.3 inches) of rain expected in Montevideo and significantly more — 27 millimeters (one inch) — in Punta del Este. Inumet forecasts overcast skies, storms, and southwest winds of 20–40 km/h with strong gusts associated with the storms. High temperatures will reach 13 C (56 F) in Montevideo and 17 C (63 F) on the coast, with overnight lows around 11 C (52 F). Friday through Sunday remain overcast and cool, with highs between 11 C and 12 C (52–54 F) and no significant precipitation.
What it means
Plan for heavy rain and possible strong winds Thursday; if you're traveling or have outdoor plans, expect disruption. The cold spell will keep morning wind chills near freezing through the week.
Regional forecasts from Inumet, Meteored, and Open-Meteo agree on Thursday's storm system and the overall cold pattern through the weekend.
Read more at Inumet
Crime
Four armed men rob BROU branch in Pando, escape with millions
Police estimate the robbers took US$70,000, €90,000 and $10 million from the state bank's Canelones branch Monday afternoon.
Subrayado · la diaria · 3 min
What it means
Four armed men raided the Banco República (BROU) branch on General Artigas and Solís in Pando (Canelones) yesterday at approximately 5 p.m., escaping with an estimated US$70,000, €90,000 and $10 million in Uruguayan pesos, according to police sources. The figures have not yet been confirmed by bank authorities. The robbers, carrying shotguns and 9-mm pistols, threatened and assaulted security guards before taking the cash from teller stations.
Video captured the four men, three with covered faces and one with his face visible, leaving the branch with garbage bags filled with cash and speeding away in a black Mercedes-Benz. Police were alerted via the branch's panic button near the end of the robbery. The getaway car was later found crashed and abandoned in Barros Blancos. The robbers broke into a family's home, threatening them at gunpoint to demand their car keys; when that failed, they carjacked a passing pickup truck and continued their escape. A firearm was recovered inside the abandoned Mercedes.
Authorities are working to identify the man whose face was captured on camera; police sources told Montevideo Portal he is believed to be a foreign national under 30 years old and was wearing Adidas Niteball sneakers. The bank workers' union AEBU has called for increased security resources following the robbery.
What it means
This is the most significant bank robbery in months and underscores ongoing concerns about armed crime. BROU account holders are not directly affected, but the incident will likely renew debate over security at state institutions.
Reporting by Subrayado, la diaria, Montevideo Portal, Infobae.
Read more at Subrayado
Noche de la Nostalgia
No fatalities in Noche de la Nostalgia; 23 crashes, 267 positive breathalyzer tests
The annual Independence Eve celebration passed without deaths on the roads for another year, despite one serious injury and 22 minor crashes.
Caras y Caretas · summary · 2 min
What it means
The Noche de la Nostalgia (Night of Nostalgia) celebration on Monday night and into this morning saw no traffic fatalities nationwide, according to preliminary data from the Sistema de Información Nacional de Tránsito (SINATRAN). Between 7 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. today, authorities recorded 23 crashes, one involving a person with serious injuries and 22 with minor injuries. In Maldonado, nearly 1,800 vehicle checks were conducted, yielding 10 positive breathalyzer tests.
Nationwide, more than 13,000 breathalyzer tests were administered during the coordinated operation by the Unidad Nacional de Seguridad Vial (UNASEV), the Interior Ministry, and departmental governments. A total of 267 drivers tested positive for alcohol. The Noche de la Nostalgia, celebrated each year on Aug. 24 (the eve of Uruguay's Independence Day), is one of the country's biggest nightlife events, comparable in scale to New Year's Eve.
What it means
The zero-fatality result is a success for road safety efforts. If you drove last night, expect heightened enforcement to continue through the holiday.
Data from UNASEV via Caras y Caretas, la diaria and Montevideo Portal.
Read more at carasycaretas.com.uy
Diplomacy
Israel protests after Csukasi says Uruguay would arrest Netanyahu
The Foreign Ministry number two told a streaming show Uruguay is obligated to enforce an ICC arrest warrant if the Israeli prime minister visits.
En Perspectiva · summary · 3 min
What it means
Israel's embassy in Montevideo lodged a verbal protest with Uruguay's Foreign Ministry after Subsecretaria (deputy minister) Valeria Csukasi said in a streaming interview that Uruguay would be obligated to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he entered the country, according to El País. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu earlier this year. Csukasi, speaking on the Al Weso show hosted by journalist Jorge Balmelli, said Uruguay's obligation under its ICC commitments is "indiscutible" (indisputable), though she added Netanyahu would never visit knowing such warrants exist.
Csukasi also said the Israeli government has committed human-rights violations and abused the concept of self-defense, noting the response has been disproportionate "in time and intensity." However, she reiterated the Orsi administration's position that what is happening in Gaza does not meet the legal definition of genocide because "not all the characteristics" of the Genocide Convention are met. President Orsi later told the press that officials should avoid making statements "on something that is not a fact," and coalition president Alejandro Sánchez defended Csukasi, saying the government is "very tranquil" about the minister's conduct.
According to diplomatic sources cited by El País, the Israeli embassy's protest was verbal and not recorded in writing. The embassy confirmed to the paper that the matter was handled through the proper diplomatic channels in a framework of open and professional dialogue with Uruguayan authorities.
What it means
The exchange underscores Uruguay's balancing act between international legal obligations and diplomatic ties. Foreigners from countries that recognize the ICC should understand Uruguay's stated position, though the practical likelihood of Netanyahu visiting is near zero.
Reporting by En Perspectiva (Radiomundo), El País (via la diaria and Montevideo Portal), UyPress.
Read more at enperspectiva.uy
Politics
Opposition to file criminal complaint against Defense Minister Lazo
The coalition parties accuse the minister of abuse of office in the Cardama patrol-boat investigation and will charge two of her advisers with unlawful conduct.
Medios Públicos · summary · 3 min
What it means
Legislators from the Partido Nacional, Partido Colorado and Partido Independiente announced they will file a criminal complaint this week against Defense Minister Sandra Lazo for alleged abuse of office (abuso innominado de funciones) in connection with the Cardama case. The opposition says two of Lazo's advisers — Daniel Marsiglia and Damián Rojas — interrogated senior Navy officers, recommended sanctions, met with Cardama and other shipyard representatives, and prepared reports used to cancel the patrol-boat contract, all while working under oral instructions from the minister but without formal appointments to the ministry. The complaint will also charge the advisers with the crimes of "pesquisa" (unauthorized investigation) and usurpation of functions.
The five-month parliamentary investigative commission into the 2023 purchase and 2025 cancellation of a contract with the Spanish shipyard Cardama for two offshore patrol vessels concluded its work. In a press conference Monday, Partido Nacional deputy Gabriel Gianoli said the opposition found no corruption or illegality in the original contracting process under the Lacalle Pou government, and accused the current administration of conducting "a political operation of very bad faith." Coalition president Álvaro Delgado and other legislators participated in the announcement.
Government spokesman Alejandro Sánchez responded that the administration is "very tranquil about the minister's conduct." The dispute centers on whether Lazo's team overstepped legal boundaries in investigating alleged contract irregularities. Uruguay has about $30 million in payments tied up in the dispute, and Cardama has initiated international arbitration against the Uruguayan state.
What it means
This is the latest escalation in a polarizing political fight over a defense contract and will likely dominate headlines this week. The outcome could shape public perceptions of both the current and previous governments.
Reporting by Medios Públicos, La Mañana, la diaria and InfoDefensa (Spain).
Read more at mediospublicos.uy
For foreigners & immigrants
Pharmacy cannabis prices rose at the start of August
All four legal strains saw price increases ranging from $15 to $25 per package.
IRCCA · summary · 2 min
What it means
The Instituto de Regulación y Control del Cannabis (IRCCA) — the Cannabis Regulation and Control Institute — raised prices for the four legal cannabis strains sold in pharmacies starting Aug. 1. Alfa rose from $485 to $500, Beta from $505 to $510, Gamma from $565 to $580, and Épsilon from $615 to $630. The adjustments follow earlier increases in August 2025 and February 2026, driven by rising demand and cultivation costs.
As of April 30, 120,083 people were registered to access cannabis through one of Uruguay's three legal channels: pharmacy purchase (88,955 users, or 74 percent), cannabis clubs (20,798 members) or home cultivation (10,330 registered growers). Pharmacy sales continue to grow, with 60 pharmacies now dispensing cannabis nationwide. Home cultivation registrations, by contrast, have stalled or declined slightly. Épsilon, the highest-THC variety (up to 20 percent), remains the most popular strain, accounting for about 75 percent of December 2025 pharmacy sales.
What it means
If you're a registered cannabis buyer, your monthly cost just went up slightly. The system remains restricted to citizens and permanent residents with a cédula; tourists and temporary visa-holders cannot access it legally.
IRCCA official announcements; analysis by El Planteo and Seedtiva.
Read more at gub.uy
Following — threads we keep open
Cannabis market shows steady growth; home cultivation declines
IRCCA's first-quarter 2026 report shows 120,000 registered users, but autocultivo is the only channel losing participants.
Uruguay's legal cannabis market continues to consolidate more than a decade after the landmark 2013 regulation, according to the Instituto de Regulación y Control del Cannabis (IRCCA) first-quarter 2026 report released in May. By April 30, 120,083 people were registered to access cannabis through one of three legal channels, with pharmacy purchases (88,955 users) accounting for 74 percent of the total, cannabis clubs at 20,798 members, and home cultivation (autocultivo) at 10,330 — the only channel showing stagnation or slight decline.
The pharmacy network has expanded significantly, adding 20 new dispensaries between January 2025 and April 2026 to reach a total of 60 locations nationwide. Montevideo has 26, Canelones eight, and Maldonado seven. Only Colonia, Durazno, Florida, Soriano and Treinta y Tres lack pharmacy access. First-quarter 2026 sales were substantially higher than the prior year; March 2026 recorded 525 kilograms sold compared to 348 kilograms in March 2025. Épsilon, the highest-THC strain (up to 20 percent), remains the most popular variety.
Prices rose Aug. 1 across all four strains — Alfa, Beta, Gamma and Épsilon — the third increase in a year. Analysts suggest former home growers may be migrating to pharmacies as the retail network improves and the novelty of cultivation fades. The law restricts access to Uruguayan citizens and permanent residents over 18; tourists and temporary residents remain excluded, though reform proposals to allow visitor access have been discussed.
IRCCA quarterly report (May 2026); analysis by El Planteo.
Read more at gub.uy
Uruguay in the world press
What is being said about here, elsewhere
Common Dreams
US progressives to challenge Trump 'Donroe Doctrine' at Pan-American Congress
Coverage of the progressive congress held in Montevideo last week, which closed Sunday.
Read at Common Dreams
Jurist
Latin American and Caribbean governments face pressure to restore women's rights safeguards at Montevideo talks
Read at Jurist
Regional Gateway
Montevideo-Punta Cana nonstop route begins in March 2027
Read at Regional Gateway
Worth knowing
President Orsi said he will hold meetings with leaders of political parties for dialogue, Montevideo Portal reported.
Montevideo Portal
The Israeli embassy expressed its disagreement with Csukasi's statements about Gaza to the Foreign Ministry, Montevideo Portal reported.
Montevideo Portal
The TSA (U.S. Transportation Security Administration) is reformulating its airport security strategy and pointing toward more privatization, Montevideo Portal reported.
Montevideo Portal
BROU confirmed the amounts stolen from the Pando branch, though official figures remain preliminary, Montevideo Portal reported.
Montevideo Portal
A territorial assembly for the Fourth National Education Congress will be held in Nueva Helvecia (Colonia) this Thursday, la diaria reported.
la diaria
The suspended Gaza documentary will now screen at Cine Universitario after its Udelar venue was canceled, la diaria reported.
la diaria
Argentine cultural icon Alejandro Dolina said carnival arts are "very lucid for interpreting the meaning of existence" in an interview with la diaria.
la diaria
The dollar closed at $40.08 (cross rate) today; the euro at $46.75. Best casa de cambio buy rates: USD $40.00, EUR $46.08.
BCU · BROU
Montevideo today
High / low10° / 5°C · 50° / 41°F
Feels like8° / 1°C · 47° / 35°F
SkyPartly cloudy
Wind18 km/h · 11 mph
RainNone forecast
Tue., Aug. 2510° / 5°C · 50° / 41°F
Wed., Aug. 2615° / 7°C · 58° / 44°F
Thu., Aug. 2713° / 11°C · 56° / 52°F
No frost in the forecast window; check Inumet for any official alert.
Model consensus for today
A consensus of the major global forecast models; official warnings sourced to Inumet. More on the weather page.
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Open today?
Government officesClosed
BanksClosed
ShopsMostly closed
Supermarkets, feriasOpen
Next closureTue., Aug. 25 — Declaratoria
And againWed., Aug. 26 — banks only
On the horizon
Mon., Aug. 24Last banking day · frost
Tue., Aug. 25Declaratoria — all shut
Wed., Aug. 26Banks shut again
Thu., Aug. 27INE employment · rain
Fri., Aug. 28Parque Hotel casino closes
Mon., Aug. 31IRPF filing due
Nov. 6-8Papal visit
Nov. 15Beach flags resume
If you rent
4.25%
rent adjustment
coefficient
coefficient
August coefficientNot yet published
Inflation, 12 months4.27%
Avg. rent, Uruguay · INE, Mar.$21,400
The coefficient is the lower of two indexes — wages or prices — so it tracks inflation when wages run ahead. Whether it binds your contract depends on what the contract says and on whether the building predates June 1968.
Montevideo Insider is written and translated daily. Spanish is always given alongside its English meaning. Nothing here is legal, tax or immigration advice.