Rapid thaws and ice jams have caused rivers to overflow their banks in Masovia, particularly in the Wkra and Mławka river basins. In the town of Błędowo, water flooded several dozen properties, necessitating intervention by the crisis management team and the Ministry of Interior and Administration. Simultaneously, farmers are grappling with the effects of excess water in fields, posing a risk to winter crops, although in the Świętokrzyskie region, post-winter moisture is assessed positively for vegetation.

Ice jam on the Wkra River

The ice blockage led to the flooding of several dozen properties in Błędowo, requiring intervention by state services.

Threat to agriculture

Excess water in fields after the thaw threatens the death of winter crops, which may force farmers into costly reseeding.

Flood crisis in France

Over 270 municipalities are applying for natural disaster status following sudden water surges in the western part of the country.

At the end of February 2026, Poland is grappling with the consequences of a sudden warming and snowmelt. A critical situation occurred in northern Masovia, where a massive ice jam formed on the Wkra River. The backed-up water overflowed its banks, flooding approximately 24 properties in the town of Błędowo. Rescue services, supported by the State Fire Service and government representatives, undertook intensive efforts to clear the riverbed. The use of explosives to break up the ice was even considered, but ultimately an attempt was made to mechanically remove the blockage. The Minister of Interior and Administration, Marcin Kierwiński, reported that the situation has stabilized, although the local threat remains high due to exceeded alarm levels in the Mławka and Wkra basins. The phenomenon of ice jams is characteristic of Polish rivers with a low gradient, such as the Vistula or Wkra, where during a thaw, flowing ice encounters terrain obstacles or channel narrowings, creating natural dams.The hydrological situation has a direct impact on the agricultural sector. Experts point to the problem of water stagnation in fields, which can lead to the extinction of winter crops due to a lack of oxygen, the so-called suffocation of plants. Farmers face a difficult dilemma regarding the potential need to reseed crops. Meanwhile, in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, the mood is more optimistic; local specialists indicate that soil water reserves after the snowy winter provide a solid foundation for spring vegetation. On the Vistula, icebreakers are working continuously, crushing ice floes to prevent the formation of similar jams that have affected smaller rivers. „Sytuacja na Wkrze została ustabilizowana, służby monitorują poziom wody i są w gotowości do dalszych działań.” (The situation on the Wkra has been stabilized, services are monitoring the water level and are ready for further actions.) — Marcin KierwińskiConcurrently, flood problems are affecting Western Europe. In France, following February river surges, as many as 270 new municipalities have applied for recognition of a state of natural disaster. The scale of losses in departments such as Maine-et-Loire or Charente-Maritime is enormous, and the water recession process may still take many days. The French Minister of the Interior announced the fast-tracking of applications for financial aid for affected residents and farmers, whose fields were also submerged. In France, insurance for natural disasters is based on a solidarity system managed by the state, which requires an official government decree for compensation payouts.24 — properties were flooded as a result of the jam on the Wkra

Mentioned People

  • Marcin Kierwiński — Minister of Interior and Administration, overseeing the operations of services in Masovia.
  • Laurent Nuñez — French state official informing about the consequences of the floods.