Poland issues storm, wind and flood warnings as 80 km/h gales approach

Convective storms across northern and central voivodeships

The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has placed northern and central Poland under first-degree thunderstorm warnings for Sunday afternoon. The alerts cover the entire territories of the Pomeranian and West Pomeranian voivodeships, as well as designated portions of Lubusz, Greater Poland, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, and Warmian-Masurian. Forecast models project localized rainfall accumulations between 10 and 20 millimetres, accompanied by isolated hail showers. In Pomerania, meteorological instability is expected to span the entire afternoon, with convection diminishing in western districts around 17:00 and lingering across eastern districts until approximately 19:00. Under official meteorological criteria, a first-degree warning indicates conditions capable of generating hazardous phenomena that cause property damage and create risks to human health and life. All thunderstorm-related warnings are scheduled to remain active until Sunday evening.

Coastal gales and nationwide wind warnings

In addition to thunderstorms, atmospheric circulation will bring high winds across the country, prompting tiered warnings from the national weather service. The northern coastal edges of Pomeranian and West Pomeranian voivodeships are subject to second-degree gale warnings, where northwesterly winds are forecast with a 90 percent probability. Mean sustained winds along the Baltic shoreline are expected to reach up to 50 kilometres per hour, with gusts peaking at 80 kilometres per hour. This coastal wind event is projected to commence around 15:00 on Sunday, 20 September, and persist until 12:00 on Monday. Furthermore, first-degree strong wind alerts will take effect across all sixteen Polish voivodeships starting Sunday evening, remaining active nationwide through the night between Monday and Tuesday.

Emergency security directives for coastal districts

Poland's Government Centre for Security has activated targeted emergency text alerts for residents and travellers situated in vulnerable maritime counties. Within the Pomeranian voivodeship, the warning applies to five administrative entities: the municipal territory of Słupsk, alongside Lębork, Puck, Słupsk, and Wejherowo counties. In the West Pomeranian voivodeship, seven jurisdictions are covered, including the urban districts of Koszalin and Świnoujście, together with Gryfice, Kamień, Kołobrzeg, Koszalin, and Sławno counties. The emergency agency stated that high winds present substantial physical risks in public spaces, advising individuals to exercise caution during outdoor movements and avoid hazardous structures.

Do not stay and do not park under trees.

Marine storm surges and hydrological alerts

Sustained storm-force winds blowing from the north and northwest are anticipated to drive seawater into coastal zones, triggering second-degree hydrological warnings along the Baltic seaboard. Hydrological forecasts indicate that water levels will climb into the high-water zone, exceeding designated warning thresholds across several monitoring stations. The meteorological institute noted that water levels carry an upward trend, with localized marine surges presenting a risk of briefly reaching statutory alarm thresholds. Official definitions classify a second-degree hydrological alert as water levels exceeding warning boundaries with potential short-term alarm violations. These hydrological warnings are scheduled to remain in effect until Tuesday noon, 22 September, as coastal waters gradually stabilize.