Violent thunderstorms and heavy rain sweep Poland after record 40.5°C heatwave
Poland faces severe thunderstorms with winds up to 115 km/h and torrential rain after a historic heatwave that broke the national temperature record at 40.5°C in Słubice on Sunday.
Record-breaking heat
On Sunday, 28 June, the town of Słubice in western Poland recorded a temperature of 40.5°C, the highest ever measured in the country's history. The heatwave continued into Monday, with thermometers in central, eastern, and southern regions climbing to 35–39°C. Night-time lows provided little relief, staying at 18–25°C in many areas.
Storm system moving in
The intense heat is now colliding with a cold polar air mass driven by low-pressure system Xantippe centred over the North Atlantic. This clash is triggering a line of violent thunderstorms moving from west to east across Poland. IMGW, the national meteorological institute, has issued its highest-level (III degree) storm warnings for parts of Wielkopolska, Lubuskie, and Dolnośląskie (Lower Silesia).
What the warnings say
Level III alerts mean a risk of life-threatening weather. Forecasters predict downpours of 50–70 mm, with point totals reaching 90–100 mm in some areas. Wind gusts may hit 90 km/h, and hail is possible. These warnings remain in force until 6:00 on Tuesday.
Level II storm alerts cover the entire provinces of Łódzkie, Opolskie, Śląskie, Małopolskie, Świętokrzyskie, and Podkarpackie, plus portions of several others. In these areas, rainfall of 30–55 mm and wind gusts up to 115 km/h are forecast. Level I warnings apply to much of Zachodniopomorskie, with rain up to 35 mm and gusts to 85 km/h.
Public safety response
The Government Centre for Security (RCB) sent text-message alerts to residents in 13 provinces and parts of Mazovia.
Avoid open spaces and brace for possible power outages.
IMGW also issued hydrological level I warnings for small rivers nationwide, cautioning that intense rain could cause flash flooding and exceed alert stages. The flood warnings cover catchments across almost all of Poland, excluding only Podlaskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Pomorskie, and parts of Mazowieckie.
What the next days hold
Tuesday will bring storms across the entire country, with the most violent activity in central and southern regions. Temperatures will remain high in the south and southeast (30–36°C) but cooler in the north and west. By Wednesday, the country will split into a hot east (33–34°C) and a more moderate west (20–26°C). Thursday should bring widespread cooling to 24–26°C.
A decisive change arrives on Friday, 3 July, when maximum temperatures drop to 20–24°C across most of Poland, with some southern spots as low as 15°C. The timeline below tracks this weather shift.
- Record temperature of 40.5°C measured in Słubice, the hottest day in Polish history.
- Level II and III storm warnings take effect in eastern and central provinces.
- Storms spread nationwide, strongest in central and south; winds up to 100–115 km/h.
- Hot air lingers in east (33–34°C), while west and north cool to 20–26°C.
- Widespread cooling sets in; highs of 24–26°C across most of Poland.
- Sharp temperature drop to 20–24°C, some southern areas only 15°C.
