May day weekend weather 2026. Baltic coast or Masurian lakes – where to spend the long weekend?

Ahead of us is the long-awaited May holiday weekend, the perfect opportunity to get away for a few days and relax in nature. Meteorologists have very good news: May Day weekend 2026 will be warm and sunny, and in some regions temperatures will even exceed 25°C. The boldest among us may even try a refreshing dip!

Warmer with each day

The synoptic forecast prepared by the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management – National Research Institute (IMGW-PIB) is more than optimistic. The last day of April will still begin with ground frost, but from May 1 nighttime temperatures should no longer drop below 0°C (except in high mountain areas). On Sunday morning, thermometers in the north and west of the country may show as much as 10–13°C.

During the day it will be much warmer. Friday’s highs will reach 20–22°C, Saturday’s 24–25°C, and on Sunday we can expect even 26°C. The warmest conditions will occur in Western Pomerania, Greater Poland, and Silesia.

May day weekend 2026: by the water or in the mountains?

Those heading to the Baltic coast for the long weekend will not be disappointed. On Friday and Saturday, meteorologists forecast full sunshine and a pleasant 16–24°C, with cloud cover possibly increasing only on Sunday. The sea is, of course, still very cold, so even dipping your feet will be quite a challenge – nearshore water temperatures are only 6–7°C.

In the Masurian Lakes region it will be slightly cooler and more overcast, but there is no need to pack warm jackets or umbrellas. On Friday, temperatures will reach a maximum of 16°C, but by Sunday already 24°C. Healthy and well-acclimatized individuals can take advantage of the summer-like weather by briefly immersing themselves in a lake – water temperatures range from 10–15°C and can wake you up better than morning coffee. Even dipping your feet can be a good way to train immunity and provide a positive psychological stimulus, connecting people with nature without the isolation of soles and concrete surfaces.

May Day weekend 2026 is also a great opportunity to breathe fresh mountain air and get your blood flowing with a brisk hike. The weather will definitely favor trekking, and only the mornings may feel uncomfortably cool, below 10°C. During the day, hikers in lower mountain areas can expect up to 20°C, and on Saturday full sunshine will dominate over the Sudetes and the Tatra Mountains.

Will the whole of May be warm?

Does such an optimistic forecast mean the end of spring cold spells? Long-term forecasts from IMGW-PIB suggest that May Day weekend 2026 will truly usher in a warm spring – until the end of the month, average daily maximum temperatures are expected to remain between 13–15°C on the coast and around 20°C in central and southern Poland. There is therefore a chance that this year’s “cold gardeners” will be kinder to our plants.

This warm May trend corresponds with the expected arrival of the El Niño phenomenon, forecast by the World Meteorological Organization, which is associated with rising average air temperatures. However, regional meteorological phenomena may complicate the situation in Europe. Models from Pivotal Weather, for example, indicate that cold air is flowing in from the Arctic and will shift toward Turkey over the weekend, potentially bringing even winter storms. The Severe Weather Europe portal suggests that Balkan vineyards may be affected, and in some areas around the Black Sea as much as 30 cm of fresh snow may fall.

Impatient gardeners should therefore wait a few days for more precise short-term forecasts. For now, all that remains is to enjoy a warm and sunny May holiday weekend!