IMGW issues first-degree thunderstorm warnings for 11 voivodeships across Poland on Saturday
The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has issued level-one alerts for up to 11 voivodeships, forecasting heavy rain, strong wind and local hail between noon and 11 p.m. on Saturday.
The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) has issued first-degree thunderstorm warnings for a swath of Poland on Saturday, 13 June. The alerts, the lowest in the three-tier warning scale, cover between ten and eleven voivodeships and are in effect from 12:00 to 23:00 local time. Forecasters expect rainfall between 20 mm and 30 mm, wind gusts of 60 km/h to 75 km/h, and, in some places, hail.
Affected regions
Most reports agree that the warnings cover the voivodeships of Dolnośląskie, Lubuskie, Łódzkie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Mazowieckie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Zachodniopomorskie and the northern part of Opolskie. Some sources also list Wielkopolskie, raising the total to eleven. The alert for Pomorskie was highlighted separately by regional media, with warnings of strong storms along the Baltic coast.
What to expect
Rainfall totals are forecast at 20 to 30 mm, accompanied by gusty winds reaching 60 to 75 km/h. Localised hailstorms may also occur. IMGW estimates the probability of the phenomena at 75 percent. The conditions, while not extreme, are likely to cause travel disruption, minor flooding and property damage, and could pose risks to health and safety, according to the institute.
Warning level
A first-degree warning is the lowest in the three-tier colour-coded system used by IMGW. It indicates that meteorological conditions are favourable for dangerous weather events that can lead to material losses and threats to life and health. Higher warning levels would be issued if the storms were expected to be more severe.
