On March 1st, meteorological spring began in Poland, bringing a sharp temperature rise and sunny weather to most regions of the country. Residents of Szczecin, Łódź, and seaside resorts flocked to outdoor walks, while the first crocuses have already appeared in Muszyna. However, meteorologists warn of changeable weather, night frosts, and the threat of flooding resulting from rapid thaw and snowmelt in the mountains.
Start of Meteorological Spring
March 1st marked the formal beginning of the new season in weather statistics, accompanied by record-high temperatures.
Hydrological Threat
Rapid thaw and snowmelt in the mountains have raised river water levels, causing the first local floods and IMGW alerts.
Tourist Activity and Nature
Crowds of walkers appeared in parks and on beaches, while the first flowers heralding the end of winter have bloomed in the Beskids.
Atmospheric Front Doreen
The approaching front will bring a short-term deterioration of weather and precipitation, ending the first phase of exceptionally warm conditions.
The beginning of March 2026 brought a distinct shift in atmospheric conditions over Poland, marking the arrival of meteorological spring. Many parts of the country recorded temperature anomalies reaching up to 15 degrees Celsius above the norm for this period. The sunny Sunday encouraged thousands of people to engage in outdoor activities. Particular liveliness was visible in Szczecin at Jasne Błonia and on the Baltic beaches in Stegna and Mielno. Despite the spring weather, enthusiasts of ice-cold bathing, known as 'morsy' (winter swimmers), did not give up their traditional entries into the water, emphasizing that water bodies still maintain winter temperatures. The situation in mountain regions remains varied. While crocuses have bloomed in Muszyna, a traditional symbol of winter's end, a snow cover persists in Zakopane, allowing the ski season to continue. However, hydrological services from the IMGW have issued warnings about river surges. The rapid temperature increase has caused quick snowmelt, which, combined with forecasted rainfall, may lead to exceeding alarm levels in the southern part of the country. Dozens of fire brigade interventions related to local flooding and basement inundations have already been recorded. Meteorological spring has fixed time frames from March 1st to May 31st, which facilitates climatologists in comparing statistical data from different years, independent of the movable date of astronomical spring.Outlooks for the coming days indicate the persistence of warm air masses, although forecasters predict the passage of an atmospheric front named Doreen. It will bring temporary cooling and precipitation in the northern belt, while the center and south of the country will remain within the range of higher temperatures. Nights are still expected to bring sub-zero readings on thermometers, which is typical for the early spring period. Experts recall the record drought from January 2026, pointing out that the current high temperatures combined with a lack of abundant rainfall may deepen soil moisture deficits before the start of the growing season.