The Vistula River in Warsaw has recorded its lowest water levels in history at just 5 cm on Monday, with concerns that levels could drop as low as 4 cm later today.
Record Water Level Crisis
The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) has warned that the Vistula River in Warsaw has seen its water levels drop to a record low of 5 cm on September 2, with concerns that levels could potentially fall to 4 cm by the end of the day. This record low water level could persist for the next few days.
Drought Situation Across Poland
A hydrological drought has been experienced in most parts of Poland with the east, south-east, south-west, and west regions, as well as some areas in the north of the country, particularly affected. The risk of forest fires persists, with the risk being low in most areas but moderate in some.
Heatwave and Thunderstorm Alerts
First degree heatwave alerts have been issued in the Mazovia, Lublin, Lodz, Malopolska, Holy Cross, and Subcarpathia regions, with temperatures potentially rising to 31°C. The IMGW also warns of potential thunderstorms in the West Pomeranian, Lubusz, Great Poland, and Silesia regions.
Up to 30 liters of rain per square meter could fall in some areas of western Poland, with wind gusts of up to 70 km/h in some locations.
Hydrological Drought in Poland
Hydrological drought in Poland’s ongoing situation is the result of high temperatures, a lack of sustained rainfall, and other climatic changes, as well as human activities such as concreting and poor land management practices. Hydrological droughts have become a yearly occurrence, making the situation all the more alarming as they now cover an increasingly larger area. Grzegorz Walijewski emphasizes that we are “responsible” for the extreme situations we face.
