Saharan dust over Poland and 20 degrees - March 2026

Poland is under the influence of a strong anticyclonic block, which is bringing exceptionally warm air masses from the south to Central Europe. Forecasters predict that the coming days may bring temperatures typical of late spring, exceeding the 20-degree Celsius barrier at the warmest times of the day. Such a strong thermal anomaly goes hand in hand with the transport of Saharan dust, which will dominate the Polish sky in the near future. This phenomenon manifests as a characteristic haze in the atmosphere and blood-red sunrises and sunsets. Saharan dust forces particular caution for people with respiratory diseases, as it significantly worsens air quality, even in the absence of traditional smog. In March 1974, Poland experienced one of the most spectacular dust storms, when masses of sand from the steppes reduced visibility to a dozen meters, paralyzing transport in many regions of the country.However, the hydrological situation remains complex. Despite the prevailing atmospheric drought, high water levels caused by earlier thaws are still recorded in the basins of the Vistula and Oder rivers. Hydrological warnings currently cover mainly Mazovia and Lower Silesia, where several rivers, including Mławka and Czarna Woda, have exceeded alarm levels. Services are monitoring flood embankments, although the lack of forecasted heavy rainfall in the coming days should favor stabilization of the situation. On the other hand, farmers and gardeners are anxiously observing the rapid vegetation of plants, which could be interrupted by night frosts caused by strong heat radiation during cloudless nights. 20°C — thermometers in Poland may show in the first decade of MarchOn a global scale, UN experts draw attention to the fading of the phenomenon La Niña and the transition to a neutral phase. There is a high probability that before the end of May, the phenomenon will return El Niño, which, combined with ongoing climate changes, could make 2026 one of the hottest in recorded history. In Poland, this could result in an extremely dry and hot summer, for which water and forestry services are already preparing. „To nie jest typowe przedwiośnie, ale raczej miks zjawisk ekstremalnych, od afrykańskiego upału po pyłowe zamiecie.” (This is not typical early spring, but rather a mix of extreme phenomena, from African heat to dust storms.) — Grzegorz Walijewski

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media strongly emphasize linking weather anomalies to global warming and the need for immediate climate reforms. Conservative media focus on practical aspects of the weather, advice for farmers, and local hydrological threats.