The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has issued a series of warnings for nine provinces. The main threat is rapid snowmelt leading to river surges, particularly in northern and central Poland. In Mazovia and Greater Poland, the situation is complicated by dense fog reducing visibility below 200 meters. Simultaneously, ice on rivers, including the Wkra, is creating dangerous jams that threaten local flooding and riverbanks overflowing.

Dangerous River Surges

IMGW has issued highest-level warnings for river surges exceeding alarm states, particularly in the north of the country.

Ice Jams on the Wkra River

A 300-meter ice jam in the town of Joniec has caused the river to overflow and poses a threat to nearby farms.

Transport Paralysis Due to Fog

Visibility in Mazovia and Greater Poland has dropped below 200 meters, generating a high risk of road accidents.

Gardening Season and Prices

Despite the difficult weather, March is the time for sowing vegetables, but there are growing concerns about egg and strawberry prices ahead of the approaching Easter.

The beginning of March in Poland is marked by severe hydrological phenomena caused by a sudden warming. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) has raised the alarm level for many regions, pointing to the danger from melting snow cover. The situation is particularly difficult in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, where firefighters have already intervened dozens of times due to flooded basements and properties. The main threat is concentrated around riverbeds, where water levels are approaching or exceeding warning and alarm states. The Wkra River has become a symbol of the current hydrological problems. In the Joniec municipality, an ice jam approximately 300 meters long has formed, blocking the free flow of water and causing it to spill onto surrounding fields and meadows. A similar situation is occurring on the Drwęca River in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region. Services are monitoring water levels around the clock, preparing for the potential need to conduct evacuations or use heavy equipment to break up the ice. Meanwhile, in Pomerania, the rise in river levels is considered a direct result of rapid thaws in the upper reaches of watercourses. The phenomenon of ice jams and thaw floods in the Vistula and Oder river basins is a constant element of Poland's hydrological cycle; however, climate change means that periods of sudden thaw are occurring more frequently and violently than in the last century.In addition to water threats, Poland is grappling with a transport paralysis caused by dense fog. IMGW alerts have covered, among others, Mazovia and Greater Poland, where visibility has dropped in places to levels that make safe road traffic impossible. March also brings a revival in agriculture and horticulture, although experts warn about the impact of unstable weather on food prices ahead of Easter. Rising agricultural production costs and possible frost damage to strawberry crops could translate into higher receipts in stores. At the same time, gardening guides suggest starting to sow specific plants, such as root vegetables, while remaining vigilant against returning pests, including the box tree moth.

Perspektywy mediów: Liberal media emphasize the link between extreme phenomena and the climate crisis and call for systemic changes in water management. Conservative media focus on the readiness of uniformed services and local community in combating the effects of the elements.

Mentioned People

  • Leon — Likely a figure in the context of religious reflections mentioned in the title of an article about the Angelus.