Poland braces for severe thunderstorms: 14 voivodeships under level-1 warnings; strong winds, hail and up to 40 mm of rain expected

Warnings in effect

IMGW has issued first-stage thunderstorm warnings for 14 of Poland's 16 voivodeships, effective from midday to 22:00 on Thursday, 23 July. The alerts point to short but intense rainfall of 15 to 25 mm, locally up to 30 mm, and wind gusts reaching 65 km/h. Small hail is also possible across these areas. Separately, warnings for heavy rain combined with thunderstorms have been active since 7:00 this morning and will remain until 20:00 in parts of Pomorskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Wielkopolskie, where accumulated rainfall could reach 30 to 40 mm. The Government Safety Centre (RCB) sent a text alert to residents of Podkarpacie voivodeship, warning of thunderstorms, strong wind and possible power cuts, and urging people to stay away from open spaces.

Attention! Today (23.07) thunderstorms, strong wind and rainfall. Possible power outages. Avoid open spaces.

Wind, hail and cloudbursts

A low-pressure system moving from the Baltic Sea is driving the unsteady weather, pulling a cold front across Poland. Forecasters from tvnmeteo.pl describe widespread cumulonimbus clouds that will generate showers and occasional lightning, with the heaviest downpours delivering 20 to 30 mm of rain within an hour. Gusts of 60 to 70 km/h could snap branches and disrupt power, while small hail may damage crops. In mountainous areas, wind speeds will be even higher: up to 100 km/h in the Sudetes and 60 km/h in the Tatras. By evening, the rain will shift eastward, and clearing skies will allow fog to form in western provinces, reducing visibility to 400 metres.

Overnight and Friday

Once the front passes, Thursday night will be cool, with temperatures falling to 10 to 14°C across the interior, about 15°C at the coast, and as low as 8 to 10°C in the Podhale region. Fog and low clouds will hang over the west, while the east will hold onto scattered showers. Friday will bring a gradual improvement: cloud cover will break up in the west, but eastern voivodeships (especially Podkarpacie) may still see thunderstorms and up to 25 mm of rain. Maximum temperatures on Friday will range from 19 to 22°C in most regions, staying cooler in foothill areas.

Hydrological alerts and drought paradox

The heavy rain prompted IMGW to activate 80 first-level hydrological warnings for sudden water level rises across northern, central and southern Poland. Small rivers and streams are most at risk of flash flooding. Parts of Warmińsko-Mazurskie are under second-degree flood warnings, where water levels are expected to exceed alert thresholds. At the same time, many areas of the country remain under drought advisories reflecting persistently low base flows. The institute stressed that the hydrological situation can shift rapidly and urged the public to follow updated communiqués.

Weekend outlook

By Saturday, the unsettled pattern will break. A ridge of high pressure is forecast to settle over Poland, bringing abundant sunshine and a noticeable rise in temperatures. Western regions are expected to reach 27 to 28°C, while the rest of the country will enjoy a return to warm, summer conditions after the stormy spell.