Poland is preparing for a sudden warming in the last weekend of February, with temperatures reaching up to 18 degrees Celsius locally. While meteorologists forecast sunny weather conducive to recreation, a discussion about work time reform returns to the public sphere. A petition concerning expanding the catalog of days off with new dates has been submitted to the President's Chancellery, coinciding with the debate on establishing Good Friday as a statutory day off from work, although the realistic timeframe for changes is 2027.
Sudden warming this weekend
Temperatures in Poland will rise to 18 degrees Celsius, heralding the arrival of meteorological spring on March 1.
Debate on days off
A petition for a day off for holidays falling on Sunday and a proposal for a day off on Good Friday have been submitted to the Ministry of Labour.
No Sunday trading
A trading ban is in effect this coming Sunday, March 1; most large shops and malls will remain closed.
Impact on health and agriculture
Doctors warn meteopaths about the effects of sudden weather changes, and farmers are monitoring accelerated plant vegetation.
The last weekend of February 2026 will bring a sudden change in weather to Poland, which meteorologists describe as a 'heat explosion'. According to forecasts from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, thermometers in the south-west of the country may indicate up to 18 degrees Celsius. Such high temperatures, unusual for this time of year, herald the arrival of meteorological spring, which officially begins on March 1. Experts, however, point to the phenomenon of meteopathy – a sudden rise in temperature and changes in pressure can negatively affect the well-being of sensitive individuals, causing headaches or lack of concentration. Parallel to the improvement in weather, significant talks regarding the calendar of days off are taking place in the legislative sphere. The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy is analyzing a petition concerning granting an additional day off when a public holiday falls on a Sunday. Currently, regulations provide such compensation only for holidays falling on a Saturday. Additionally, the Sejm is considering a proposal for Good Friday to become a day off from work, which would align Polish law with solutions known from many European Union countries, although experts indicate that the changes will come into force at the earliest in 2027. The current system for calculating working time in Poland is based on the Labour Code from 1974, which has been amended many times to adapt it to EU standards and changing social needs. The issue of Sunday trading remains unchanged – on March 1, shops will remain closed, forcing consumers to plan their shopping in advance. Media also remind that although February is coming to an end, the change to daylight saving time will not occur this coming weekend, but according to the schedule on the last Sunday of March. „Będzie pogodnie i ciepło. Do 18 st. C na południowym zachodzie kraju.” (It will be sunny and warm. Up to 18°C in the south-west of the country.) — IMGW Meteorologist From an economic perspective, early warming is a signal for agriculture and horticulture. Industry experts appeal for securing yield potential in the face of accelerated plant vegetation. Although long-term forecasts for summer 2026 indicate a continuation of rising temperature trends, meteorologists warn against excessive optimism, reminding of the possibility of frost returning in March. Meteopathy is becoming an increasingly common problem in the era of rapid climate change, as indicated by doctors preparing patients for the upcoming weekend.