Storms and hailstorms: weather alerts for all of Poland

The Subcarpathian and Lesser Poland regions have experienced extreme weather events in recent days, bringing with them significant damage. Intense rainfall, hailstorms, strong winds and violent storms have turned summer into a wintry landscape. Wolbrom was particularly affected, where hail as large as 3 cm in diameter covered the city with a layer of ice, damaging vehicles and buildings and turning streets into rushing streams.

For today, the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW-PIB) has issued first-, second- and third-level warnings, which are in effect nationwide. The alerts apply to both hot weather and thunderstorms, which can be extremely violent, with the possibility of tornadoes. Heavy rainfall of up to 80 mm, wind gusts of up to 120 km/h and local hailstorms are forecast in western regions of Poland.

Hailstorms, downpours and strong winds

Intense weather anomalies are affecting residents of all provinces. Almost every day, RCB alerts are sent out about thunderstorms or threatening phenomena, warning of power outages and possible flooding. Storms passed through parts of the country on Sunday, and the most difficult situation was in the city of Mielec in Subcarpathia, where a superstorm cell caused roof damage, knocked down trees and flooded basements, leaving some homes without electricity.

On Monday afternoon, an unusual weather phenomenon occurred in Wolbrom, Lesser Poland: intense hailstorms and strong winds turned roads into rushing rivers, and the city was covered with a layer of hail, resembling a winter landscape. Hail accumulation was so high that the city looked as if it had been hit by a sudden winter, with hailstones reaching at least 3 cm in diameter.

According to Hubert Ciepły, a spokesman for the PSP in Krakow, in an interview with Radio Eska, the greatest number of damages occurred in the districts of Krakow and Olkusz: The most serious situation was in the Cracow district, with more than 130 interventions, and Olkusz district, with more than 80. The main activities of the firefighters consisted of: clearing culverts, removing broken branches and trees that fell on sidewalks and roads, pumping water from flooded basements and houses. There were no characteristic events. Staffing levels have been raised in some districts due to very intense reporting. Firefighters were also pulled from home duty.

This is what #Wolbrom in Olkusz County (Małopolskie Voivodeship) looked like recently after the passage of a superstorm cell with strong winds, heavy rainfall and hail that flooded the city’s streets. The #hail in the city reached at least 3 cm in diameter.

Author of the video: Krzysztof Szczepankiewicz pic.twitter.com/aORaq3IH6M

– Skywarn Poland – Polish Storm Hunters (@SkywarnPoland) July 8, 2024

Zakopane also reported heavy hailfall, the diameter of which reached 2 cm. Within minutes or so, the streets, lawns and roofs of buildings were covered with a layer of white ice, resembling a winter landscape. Fortunately, the hailstorm did not cause major damage.

What awaits us in the coming hours? Red alerts have been issued

A hot and humid air mass has arrived in Poland, which is being displaced from the west by a cool atmospheric front. In the afternoon, thunderstorms will begin to develop in the wind convergence zone. Initially, these will be scattered convective cells that will quickly organize into larger mesoscale systems (MCS) moving eastward. The development of these systems is likely to begin over eastern Germany. Severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall, winds up to 125 km/h and locally hailstorms and tornadoes are forecast.

IMGW-PIB has issued first-, second- and third-level warnings, which have been in effect since this morning and cover the entire country. The alerts apply to both hot weather and thunderstorms, which can be very violent in places. Residents across the country should be prepared for extreme weather conditions and follow current meteorological reports.

The third, highest-level warnings, known as red alerts, apply to the provinces:

• West Pomerania;
• lubuskie;
• Western part of Pomerania (słupski, lęborski, bytowski and człuchowski counties);
• northwestern half of Greater Poland;
• The northwestern part of Lower Silesia (districts: Głogowski, Polkowicki, Lubinski, Legnicki, Bolesławiecki, Zgorzelecki, Lubański).

In these regions, heavy rainfall of up to 80 mm, strong wind gusts of up to 90-100 km/h, locally up to 110-125 km/h, hail in places and the possibility of tornadoes are forecast in the evening hours. These warnings indicate potentially very high damage and risk to life.

Most of Poland, meanwhile, is covered by second-level warnings, the so-called “second warning”. orange alerts. They concern the provinces of Pomorskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Podlaskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Mazowieckie, Łódzkie, Wielkopolskie, Dolnośląskie, Śląskie, Małopolskie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie and Lubelskie. IMGW warns of severe thunderstorms and hot weather in these areas.

First-level warnings, so called. yellow alerts, have been issued for some counties in Pomorskie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Małopolskie and Śląskie provinces. Forecasts indicate the occurrence of hot weather and thunderstorms.

How to stay safe during a storm?

Take extra care during a thunderstorm to keep yourself and others safe. First of all, if possible, hide in a house or other sturdy building. Avoid being in open spaces and near tall objects such as trees, poles or towers, as they can attract lightning. Turn off any electrical appliances and unplug them from outlets to avoid damage from overvoltage. Stay abreast of weather forecasts and meteorological warnings to know when a storm is approaching and what steps to take for your own safety.