Poland Braces for Heatwave and Thunderstorms; Temperatures to Drop Sharply by Monday

Poland is set to experience a brief but intense heatwave, with the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) issuing warnings for high temperatures and thunderstorms. On Thursday and Friday, temperatures in affected areas are predicted to reach between 30 and 34 degrees Celsius, with overnight lows ranging from 16 to 19 degrees Celsius.

Heat warnings of Level II have been issued for several regions, including most of Lubuskie and Wielkopolskie voivodeships, southern parts of Zachodniopomorskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie, northern Mazowieckie, western Lubelskie, eastern Swietokrzyskie, and northern Podkarpackie. These alerts are valid until Friday evening.

Simultaneously, Level I warnings for thunderstorms are in place for Małopolskie, Swietokrzyskie, and Podkarpackie voivodeships, as well as southern parts of Dolnoslaskie, Slaskie, and Lubelskie. These storms may bring rainfall of 20 to 35 mm and wind gusts up to 85 km/h, with a possibility of hail. These warnings are active from Thursday afternoon until the evening.

However, the hot weather is expected to be short-lived. Following a noticeable warming trend on Thursday and Friday, temperatures are predicted to fall sharply starting Saturday. By Monday, the maximum temperature across the country is expected to be around 22 degrees Celsius, marking a significant return to cooler conditions.