Dakar 2016 first stage is at risk. Heavy rains are falling in the Rosario area, the place where the competition is supposed to start. The city of Rosario is on the banks of the Parana river and meteorologists say that the water has already risen to alert levels. In Argentina, the floods have already caused three deaths and led to the evacuation of more than 20,000 people in certain areas.

On January 2, the Prolog held near the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires will establish the starting order for the bikes. The riders will race north towards Rosario and then spend their first night in the bivouac, preparing for Stage 1 that starts at Villa Carlos Paz.

The inclement weather may affect the Dakar 2016 to a level that is yet impossible to predict. The area where the route is supposed to cross the border to Bolivia is also confronting severe meteorological phenomena. The Dakar organizers are keeping an eye on the forecasts and are constantly evaluating the chances the teams have of meeting the timetables and the established locations.

This year, the forecast for El Nino was gloomy, as the phenomenon was said to be more violent than before. Chile was crossed off the Dakar hosts lists because of massive floods and mudslides in the northern regions of the country.

 “El Niño is a climate cycle in the Pacific Ocean with a global impact on weather patterns. The cycle begins when warm water in the western tropical Pacific Ocean shifts eastward along the equator toward the coast of South America.”