Vistula reached a historically low level. What does the record in Annopol really mean?

In Annopol, the Vistula River reached its lowest level since measurements began there. On 4th August, the water gauge showed below 160 cm. The record highlights the worsening hydrological drought, which is confirmed by IMGW-PIB data from other sections of the Vistula. Can upcoming storms improve the situation?

Low water levels and low flows, the new reality

IMGW hydrologist Paweł Staniszewski, in an interview with the Polish Press Agency, reported that this week the water level of the Vistula in Annopol was lower than the previous historical minimum of 162 cm, recorded on 8 August 1952. Detailed data from the Annopol station indicate a new record of 157 cm, accompanied by an exceptionally low flow of 124 m3/s. Despite a slight improvement on Thursday morning, the level was still only 161 cm.

At the Warsaw-Bulwary station, 106 cm was recorded, only 2 cm above the minimum level from last year, while in nearby Modlin the previous year’s record of 193 cm has already been matched. The flow rate is also steadily decreasing. In Modlin, within just 3 days, it dropped from 248 m3/s to 236 m3/s.

IMGW-PIB reports that the low water level zone already covers most of the Vistula and Oder river basins, as well as the Parsęta, Słupia and Łeba rivers in Pomerania, and affects as many as 65 percent of all water gauges across the country.

Worth knowing: Water level describes the height of the water surface above the reference level for a given water gauge. Flow shows the actual availability of water resources in a river, meaning the amount of water passing through a river cross-section over a specific period of time. During hydrological drought, both of these indicators are low.

Not only Vistula

The European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences reports a significant loss of water in the Sulejów Reservoir on the Pilica River. In July alone, the water level dropped by 1.5 m, which significantly hampers navigation. In some places, sandbanks reach 0.5 m. Researchers from the Polish Academy of Sciences add that in shallow bays and in the upper part of the reservoir, the retreat of the water surface may range from several to even several dozen metres. Near the dam crest, where water is still present, intense cyanobacteria blooms are being observed.

Drought affects farmers

A statement issued on 4 August 2026 as part of the Agricultural Drought Monitoring System indicates a drought risk for spring and winter cereals in up to 100 percent of municipalities in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian and Mazowieckie provinces. Fruit shrub crops in the east and centre of the country, as well as in the Podkarpackie Province, are also suffering. Preliminary estimates by the Central Statistical Office suggest that this year’s national cereal production may be 5 percent lower than last year.

Will things improve?

Paweł Staniszewski from IMGW-PIB does not expect significant improvement, reminding that hydrological low flows most often reach their maximum at the end of August and the beginning of September. Storms passing over Poland may locally provide relief to the water-stressed environment and temporarily increase river flows, but they will not change the situation in rivers and underground aquifers, which according to the expert is the result of a precipitation deficit lasting since the beginning of this year.

The State Hydrogeological Service forecasts that in August 2026 a hydrogeological threat status will apply to the following provinces: Lower Silesian, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Lublin, Lubusz, Łódź, Lesser Poland, Mazowieckie, Opole, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomeranian, Silesian, Świętokrzyskie, Greater Poland and West Pomeranian. For now, no problems with water supply are expected.