Unusual Turn of February and March: Record Warmth in the Sun and Icebreaker Operations

The last weekend of February 2026 will be remembered by Poles as a time of a sharp clash between two seasons. In the central and southern parts of the country, an almost summer-like atmosphere prevailed, leading to mass outings of citizens to parks and water bodies. In Bydgoszcz, runners finished the City Trail cycle in full sun, while Kraków's Bagry and Poznań's promenades filled with strollers. Thermometers in many regions indicated up to 15 degrees Celsius, prompting meteorologists to announce the definitive, albeit local, arrival of early spring. However, this enthusiasm is tempered by the hydrological situation and difficult conditions in other parts of the country. On the Włocławek Reservoir, seven icebreakers are conducting ice-breaking operations, which are essential to prevent ice jams and potential floods in the lower Vistula River. The situation on rivers, such as the Wkra, remains tense, and firefighters are appealing for special caution and to avoid approaching riverbed edges. The phenomenon of anticyclonic blocking, currently observed over Central Europe, has historically been the cause of extreme spring droughts or prolonged periods of frost when the high-pressure system drew air masses from Siberia. For the agricultural sector, the current weather is a source of serious concern. Experts from industry portals warn that the rapid thaw combined with earlier snowfall has led to soil saturation with water, preventing the timely entry of tractors into fields. Farmers face a dilemma regarding nitrogen fertilization; applying fertilizers too early onto frozen or waterlogged soil risks them being washed away and causing financial losses. Additionally, winter crops are exposed to pathogens such as foot rot. In horticulture and lawn cultivation, the challenge has become snow mold, which after this winter has attacked many home lawns. Garden owners are encouraged to urgently lime the soil and perform aeration to restore the turf's access to oxygen. Prospects for the coming week indicate the dynamic situation will persist. Meteorologists predict that due to anticyclones, a blocking pattern will form, cutting off the influx of moist air masses from the west for several days, bringing sunny days but also frosty nights. Such a pressure pattern favors radiation frosts, which can damage buds of fruit trees that have been dehardened by the sun. Simultaneously, orange hydrological alerts have been declared in France due to rising water levels, showing that all of Europe is grappling with unstable weather at the threshold of March. In Poland, skiers in Kashubia are still enjoying a thick layer of snow, which stands in stark contrast to the blooming gardens in Lower Silesia.