Poland issues strong wind warnings for Sunday, gusts up to 120 km/h in the Sudetes

Warnings across Poland

The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) has issued first- and second-degree warnings for strong wind for Sunday, 25 October, covering both the north and the south of the country. The first-degree warning covers the coast, meaning the northern part of West Pomerania, Pomerania and the north-western tip of Warmia-Masuria, and it also reaches the south of Subcarpathia, Lesser Poland and the edges of Lower Silesia. In those areas IMGW forecasts average winds of up to 50 km/h, with gusts of up to 80 km/h blowing from the south. The second-degree warning applies to the southern parts of Silesia and Lower Silesia, where gusts could reach 90 km/h and locally 100 km/h, again from the south.

Coastal storm and text alerts

IMGW also warns the coast of a strong storm on the south-eastern Baltic, an alert that runs from Sunday morning until 16:00. All wind warning levels took effect in the morning and last until 21:00 at the latest. The Government Security Centre (RCB) sent alerts to residents of Bielsko-Biała and the Bielsko, Cieszyn and Żywiec districts in Silesia, warning of the strong wind forecast for Sunday. A second RCB alert went to Jelenia Góra, Wałbrzych and the Kamienna Góra, Karkonosze, Lwówek and Wałbrzych districts in Lower Silesia. Its message, translated into English, read:

“Forecast strong wind. Take care when outdoors. Secure items the wind could carry away.”

Gusts in the mountains

The forecasts put the strongest wind on the peaks of the Sudetes, where gusts could reach 120 km/h, and up to 85 km/h in the foothills there. The Tatras and high Beskids could see gusts of 100 km/h, while the Podhale and Beskid foothills could get up to 80 km/h. Gusts of up to 70 km/h are expected in the Subcarpathian foothills, 75 km/h on the western coast and 65 km/h in the west of the country. IMGW forecasts show a clear deterioration of the weather on Sunday in many regions, especially in mountains and foothills, and RCB urges people to take care outdoors and secure loose objects.

Sudetes peaks120

Tatras and high Beskids100

Sudetes foothills85

Podhale and Beskid foothills80

Western coast75

Subcarpathian foothills70

West of Poland65

Sudetes peaks

120 km/h

Tatras and high Beskids

100 km/h

Sudetes foothills

85 km/h

Podhale and Beskid foothills

80 km/h

Western coast

75 km/h

Subcarpathian foothills

70 km/h

West of Poland

65 km/h

Data from the article text

Rain and temperatures

A band of rain is forecast to move from the west toward the centre of the country, with moderate intensity in places. The west and Pomerania could see 10 to 15 mm of rain, and up to 20 mm in the foothills of Lower Silesia. Maximum temperatures are forecast at 8 to 9 °C in the west and north-west, around 12 °C in the centre and up to 16 °C in the south-east. Locally, the Carpathian foothills could record 17 °C, and strong wind and heavier rain are forecast together for Sunday.

Timing

The warnings for Sunday, 25 October, are set out by IMGW and RCB with fixed end times. The coastal storm alert starts on Sunday morning and runs until 16:00. All wind warning levels took effect in the morning and last until 21:00 at the latest. The timeline below lays out these stated times.