Poland Faces Extreme Weather Divide: Heat in South, Storms and Wind Elsewhere

Poland is bracing for a day of sharply contrasting weather, with a significant divide expected to split the country in half. While the southern regions will swelter under heatwave conditions reaching up to 31 degrees Celsius, the northern and central parts of the country will experience much cooler temperatures, ranging from 19 to 26 degrees Celsius. This stark difference is attributed to the influence of a Scandinavian low-pressure system and an atmospheric front.

The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) has issued multiple warnings, anticipating severe weather events. Residents in the southern half of the country should prepare for intense thunderstorms, which may include hail and strong winds gusting up to 80 km/h. These storms are particularly expected in the southern half of Lubelskie, and in central and eastern areas. Heat alerts have been issued for most of the Podkarpackie and Małopolskie voivodeships, as well as the southeastern part of Świętokrzyskie, where temperatures are predicted to hover around 30 degrees Celsius.

Overnight, the weather is expected to remain unsettled, with scattered showers and continued thunderstorms in the south and east, potentially bringing up to 40 mm of rain in southern areas. Fog may also reduce visibility in parts of Mazury and Podlasie. The wind will generally be weak to moderate, but gusts up to 90 km/h are possible in the high mountains, and up to 70 km/h in the Carpathians. The IMGW's advisories highlight the dynamic and potentially hazardous weather conditions across Poland.