The beginning of March brings an unexpected heat wave to Europe, resembling full spring in many regions. While the Iackl high-pressure system stabilizes the weather in Poland, the rapid temperature rise has led to sudden thaws, particularly in Pomerania. Water management services are intervening to secure flood embankments, and hydrologists are warning of river surges. Meanwhile, temperatures significantly above seasonal norms are being recorded in Germany and Italy.
Thaw Crisis in Pomerania
A sudden temperature rise led to basement flooding and embankment threats, requiring intervention by Polish Waters.
Spring Weather in Europe
Germany and Italy are recording temperatures well above the norm, heralding the end of meteorological winter.
Anomalies of Winter 2025/2026
Experts point to a record-warm December and an exceptionally dry January as evidence of climate instability.
The first days of March 2026 are marked by extreme thermal anomalies for this time of year. A vast high-pressure system, identified as the Iackl high, has dominated the weather over Poland, providing sunny skies in most regions of the country. However, this idyllic spring picture is marred by reports from the northern part of the country, where a sudden temperature increase has caused massive melting of the lingering snow cover. The situation became critical in Pomerania, where the institution Polish Waters had to order emergency interventions. Technical services are focusing on securing flood embankments and pumping water out of flooded properties and basements, a direct result of soil saturation with moisture after winter. In a broader meteorological context, scientists are drawing attention to the unusual course of the 2025/2026 winter season. The latest reports indicate a record-warm December and an exceptionally dry January, fitting into a trend of increasingly erratic weather. Synopticians describe the current situation with the term "weather patchwork," where almost hot days coexist with the risk of local thaw floods. Similar phenomena are observed in Western Europe. In Germany's Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia, temperatures encourage outdoor activities, although medical experts warn of early plant pollination, making it difficult to distinguish symptoms of hay fever from viral infections. Climate statistics from the last decade indicate that the accelerated arrival of spring is becoming the new norm in Central Europe, shortening the plants' vegetative dormancy period. Forecasts for the coming days are ambiguous and full of contrasts. While southern and western Europe, including Italy and France, enjoy stable, almost summer-like weather under the influence of an anticyclone, Poland expects passing rain showers. The greatest cloud cover is forecast for eastern and northern regions, where humid air masses may bring cooling in the second half of the week. Farmers are observing these changes with concern, fearing that after the phase of rapid warming, destructive frosts may follow, which would destroy vegetation prematurely awakened to life. „Nasze ekipy pracują bez przerwy na północy kraju, monitorując stan rzek i sprawność systemów melioracyjnych po gwałtownych roztopach.” (Our teams are working non-stop in the north of the country, monitoring the state of rivers and the efficiency of drainage systems after the sudden thaws.) — Marek Gróbarczyk In 2010, Poland struggled with one of the largest thaw floods, which forced the modernization of hydrological early warning systems.