Poland is grappling with an intense winter assault that has brought heavy snowfall, freezing rain, and frosts reaching locally -16 degrees Celsius. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has issued numerous warnings for almost the entire country, alerting to difficult road conditions, especially in southern and northeastern regions. However, forecasters predict that after a frosty Thursday, a sudden breakthrough and significant warming will occur over the coming weekend.

Extreme Frosts in the Center

Temperature will drop to -16 degrees in Lublin Voivodeship and southern Masovia, posing a threat to homeless people and infrastructure.

Alert for Snowstorms

Intense snowfall, especially in the Beskid Mountains and Lower Silesia, may add 10 cm of cover within a few hours.

Dangerous Glaze Ice

First-degree warnings have been issued for road freezing in nine voivodeships, threatening traffic paralysis.

Poland is currently under the influence of cold air of Arctic origin, resulting in a sudden weather breakdown and a return to harsh winter conditions. The most difficult situation is occurring in the Beskid Mountains and Upper Silesia, where the snow cover increase may reach up to 10 cm. A low-pressure system lingers over Eastern Europe, and from the west, the country is coming under the influence of an anticyclone named Gerd. It will bring clearing in the center and west, but at night will cause drastic temperature drops. The night of February 18-19 is shaping up to be one of the coldest this season. IMGW forecasts that in Lublin Voivodeship and southern Masovia, thermometers will show even -16 degrees Celsius. Due to the freezing of wet surfaces after earlier rain and snow showers, first-degree alerts for glaze ice have been issued. Services warn of so-called black ice on roads, which combined with limited visibility poses a real threat to traffic participants. Historically, February in Poland has been a month of extreme frosts; the national record has not been broken since 1929, when -40.6 degrees Celsius was recorded in Żywiec, showing the variability of the Polish climate during this period. Despite the current weather, meteorologists predict a rapid trend change. Already over the weekend, a sudden warming is expected, and temperatures may jump from freezing levels to even 15 degrees above zero in a short time. Polish Waters are conducting intensified river monitoring, preparing for the effects of the coming thaw. „Any potential water level rises are expected to be local, without a threat of major flooding.” — Mateusz Balcerowicz Although winter is not giving up yet, long-term forecasts indicate that incoming masses of polar maritime air will definitively push out the Arctic cold front. -16°C — temperature forecast for Lublin VoivodeshipForecasted thickness of new snow cover: Mountains: 10, Silesia: 10, Subcarpathia: 5, Central Poland: 3Forecast of weather situation development: 19 lutego — Culmination of night frosts and snowfall in the south; 21 lutego — Beginning of sudden warming and gusty wind; 23 lutego — Positive temperatures nationwide, disappearance of winter

Mentioned People

  • Anna Gryczman — Forecaster at the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management informing about extreme temperature drops.
  • Mateusz Balcerowicz — President of Polish Waters, commenting on flood safety during the thaw.