Poland is under the influence of warm, tropical air that will bring temperatures reaching up to 16 degrees Celsius locally on Tuesday. However, the sudden thaw and accompanying rainfall have led to a dangerous hydrological situation. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has maintained the highest-level alerts for several voivodeships, warning of river surges and flooding due to intense meltwater runoff.
Record temperatures in March
The influx of tropical air will cause temperatures to rise to 16 degrees Celsius, especially in southern Poland.
Flood alerts level III
IMGW maintains the highest warnings for rivers in several voivodeships due to rapid thaw.
Saharan dust over Poland
Along with warm air, dust from Africa will arrive, which may result in the phenomenon of dirty rainfall.
Night frosts and fog
Despite warm days, at night the temperature will drop below zero, which favors the formation of dense fog.
The beginning of March 2026 brings rarely seen weather contrasts for this time of year in Poland. The dominance of tropical air masses means that in many regions of the country, thermometers will show values typical of late spring, exceeding 15 degrees Celsius. It will be warmest in the southern and western parts of the country, where cloudless skies favor rapid ground heating. However, this idyllic aura has its dark side, which is the rapid degradation of the snow cover in the mountains and eastern part of the country, directly leading to a drastic increase in water levels in the Vistula and Oder river basins. The hydrological situation has become critical in at least several regions. Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has issued third-level, highest warnings for five rivers where alarm levels have been exceeded. A particularly difficult situation prevails in the Vistula Żuławy and Mazovia, where groundwater cannot keep up with infiltration, creating extensive water stagnation on cultivated fields. Farmers express deep concern about the condition of winter crops and potential difficulties in obtaining compensation for flooded crops. Additionally, forecasters warn of the phenomenon of 'dirty rain,' meaning rainfall contaminated with Saharan dust, which leaves marks on cars and can irritate the respiratory tracts of allergy sufferers and people with asthma. Although this phenomenon is sometimes called 'blood rain' due to the rusty color of the dust, it does not pose a direct threat to the health of the majority of the population. Despite high daytime temperatures, nights will remain cool, with local frosts and dense fog limiting visibility to one hundred meters. This thermal swing, combined with low pressure, may negatively affect the well-being of weather-sensitive individuals. Although current forecasts predict the continuation of fair weather for the next two days, meteorologists warn of an inevitable turn of events in the second half of the month, when frosty air from the north may return to Poland, bringing even snowfall. The global context of climate change is evident in these extremes – while we enjoy spring, temperatures in Siberia still drop below minus 40 degrees Celsius, showing the enormous dynamics of baric systems over Eurasia.Historically, March in Poland is the month of the greatest temperature fluctuations; record heat was recorded in 1974 when thermometers in Nowy Sącz indicated 25.6 degrees Celsius.„Przez Polskę przetacza się fala wód roztopowych, która w połączeniu z prognozowanymi opadami deszczu stanowi realne zagrożenie dla terenów zalewowych.” (A wave of meltwater is sweeping across Poland, which, combined with forecasted rainfall, poses a real threat to floodplains.) — IMGW Forecaster