IMGW issues first-degree heat alerts for 12 voivodeships, temperatures up to 32°C

Heat alerts return after brief cool spell

After several days of marked cooling, when storms and rainfall dominated, Poland is set for a rapid return of summer heat. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) on Saturday issued first-degree heat warnings, the lowest level on its rising three-step alert scale. The yellow warnings signal conditions conducive to hazardous meteorological phenomena that can cause material losses, pose health risks, and complicate outdoor activities.

Which areas are affected?

The warning footprint spans 12 voivodeships. Five are covered in their entirety: łódzkie in the centre, dolnośląskie and opolskie in the south-west, śląskie in the south, and świętokrzyskie in the centre-east. The remaining seven provinces are partially under alert: the majority of małopolskie (excluding the Tatra district), wielkopolskie, lubuskie and mazowieckie; the western half of lubelskie; the southern districts of kujawsko-pomorskie; and the northern and north-western parts of podkarpackie. In effect, a broad swath of central and southern Poland is covered, stretching from the German border across to the Lublin and Rzeszów regions.

Timing and temperature

The alerts are timed strictly: they begin at 12:00 on Sunday and expire at 19:00. During this seven-hour window, forecasters expect maximum temperatures to range between 30°C and 32°C. The combination of high temperatures and strong sunshine will create conditions where heat-related illness is a genuine risk. IMGW notes that a first-degree warning means that conducting normal activities is difficult and dangerous under exposure, and that delays on roads and railways, as well as the possible cancellation of outdoor events, should be anticipated.

Safety recommendations

Health advice from IMGW is clear. People should drink water continuously, avoid heavy physical exertion in the midday and early-afternoon sun, and wear sun protection. Older adults, small children, and anyone with cardiovascular disease are singled out as being at particular risk. One of the most emphatic reminders is about vehicles: parked cars heat up within minutes, turning into ovens that can kill children or pets left inside. The warnings also urge following subsequent weather updates, as conditions can shift rapidly.

What's next: longer heat wave forecast

Looking beyond Sunday, meteorologists are watching a pattern that could lock hot air over Poland through the end of July. Several forecast models indicate that the country may be entering its first sustained heat wave of the summer, with multiple days of temperatures solidly above 30°C. The Institute's outlook warns that the end of July may bring very strong warming and that the last days of the month could become the hottest stretch of summer 2026. Residents are asked to stay informed, as the severity and duration of the warnings may be upgraded.