March 1st brought a dramatic weather shift to Poland, marking the start of meteorological spring. While many regions recorded temperature anomalies reaching 15 degrees Celsius, the sudden thaw led to dozens of fire brigade interventions, particularly in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Services warn of dangerous river surges and local flooding, while meteorologists forecast a March full of variable weather, colloquially known as a weather mix-up.
Record Heat and Anomalies
Temperature in Darłowo reached 20 degrees Celsius at the end of February, exceeding climatic norms by 15 degrees.
Hydrotechnical Crisis in Masuria
Over 40 fire brigade interventions in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship caused by violent snowmelt.
IMGW Hydrological Alerts
Alarm states declared on rivers due to the risk of flooding following the sudden disappearance of the snow cover.
The beginning of March 2026 has been recorded in meteorological chronicles as a time of radical contrasts and a sudden transition from harsh winter to almost summer-like temperatures. The start of meteorological spring coincided with the breakdown of the polar vortex, opening the way for masses of warm air from the south and west. On the last Saturday of February on the Baltic coast, including in Darłowo, thermometers showed a staggering 20 degrees Celsius. Such a strong thermal anomaly, exceeding norms by over a dozen degrees, drew hundreds of Poles to parks and beaches, creating the illusion of full summer in the middle of the seasonal transition. This medal, however, has another side: violent snowmelt. The rapidly melting snow cover combined with intense rainfall carried by the Doreena front caused immediate hydrological problems. The most difficult situation is in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, where firefighters have already intervened dozens of times to pump water out of flooded basements and properties. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has issued a series of highest-level warnings regarding river surges, especially in the basins of rivers in northern and eastern Poland, where ice and swollen water threaten the stability of flood embankments. The increase in the frequency of extreme weather anomalies at the turn of winter and spring has been observed in Central Europe since the 1990s, which experts link to progressing climate change and the destabilization of the jet stream. Forecasts for the coming weeks offer no hope for stabilization. Synopticians forecast a classic March mix-up, where periodic bursts of cold from the north will clash with warm anticyclones. Although forecasts for Easter suggest the dominance of spring-like weather, the proximity of the active Doreena front may bring local returns of winter in some parts of the country. Residents of cities such as Warsaw, Toruń, or Białystok must prepare for periods of dense cloud cover and transitional precipitation, which will regularly interrupt temporary clearings caused by mobile high-pressure systems. „Zalane piwnice i ulice. Strażacy interweniowali kilkadziesiąt razy.” (Flooded basements and streets. Firefighters intervened dozens of times.) — Service Announcement The flood threat remains a priority topic for crisis management centers. The situation on the rivers is monitored around the clock, as the accumulation of water from snowmelt coincides with forecasted rainfall of up to several dozen millimeters per square meter. Services appeal for caution, especially near watercourses and in low-lying areas where the ground is already completely saturated with water and cannot absorb more moisture.