Poland is experiencing a sudden warming on the cusp of March, with temperatures locally approaching 20 degrees Celsius. While the sunny weather and favorable biometeorological conditions delight residents, the abrupt change brings challenges: from thaws threatening crops to a major heating network failure in Wrocław, which has left thousands without heating. Road services across the country are beginning post-winter repairs of surfaces damaged by frost.
Record temperatures in February
Thermometer readings across Poland are approaching 20 degrees Celsius, an extreme result for this period.
Heating crisis in Wrocław
A major network failure has left thousands of Wrocław residents without heating and hot water at a crucial moment of weather change.
Icebreaker operation on the Vistula
Water services continue breaking up ice to prevent jams forming as a result of sudden thaws and rising water levels.
Road repairs across the country
Road workers in Lublin and Wrocław have begun patching potholes caused by winter frosts, generating traffic disruptions.
The last day of February 2026 is being recorded in meteorological chronicles as exceptionally warm, with thermometer readings more typical of full spring than the end of winter. Forecasters report local heat records, indicating that in some regions the temperature exceeded 19 degrees Celsius. While this situation favors weekend recreational plans, it brings a series of infrastructure and agricultural complications. In Wrocław, a serious failure of a main heating pipeline occurred, which, combined with earlier frosts, led to the cutoff of hot water and heating for a significant portion of residents. Technical services are working to fix the fault, but the scale of the problem is unprecedented for this part of the city. The sudden thaw has also become a concern in the agricultural sector. Experts note that while moisture from melting snow is desirable for vegetation, water stagnation in fields can lead to the "suffocation" of winter crops. The best conditions are reported in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, where a snowy winter provided adequate thermal insulation and the current warming is proceeding in a controlled manner. Meanwhile, icebreakers are still operating on the Vistula River, tasked with breaking up ice floes and preventing the formation of ice jams, which, with a rapid rise in water levels, could threaten the flood safety of the Masovian region. In cities like Lublin and Wrocław, large-scale road repair campaigns have begun. Post-winter surface damage requires immediate intervention, leading to numerous traffic disruptions, including on key arteries in Wrocław. Meanwhile, in Gdynia, residents complain about delays in spring street cleaning, which is only scheduled for April. Doctors urge caution for people sensitive to weather changes, as such a rapid transition from winter to spring conditions causes negative reactions in weather-sensitive individuals. February in Poland has historically been the most unpredictable month, with extreme frosts reaching -30 degrees (as in 1929) or sudden thaws, which have repeatedly led to ice-jam floods on the country's main rivers. „Było prawie 20 stopni, a to jeszcze nie koniec” (It was almost 20 degrees, and this is not the end yet) — TVN24 Forecaster Most media focus on the positive aspects of the sunny weekend, promoting regional tourism, while local media place greater emphasis on troublesome failures and the poor state of infrastructure after winter.
Perspektywy mediów: Media highlight the benefits of warming and encourage outdoor activities and sightseeing. Local dailies concentrate on neglect in road infrastructure and heating network failures.