Poland will experience the brightest night of winter on February 1-2 with the Snow Moon full moon at 23:09.
Snow Moon Fullness over Poland
The February full moon, known as the Snow Moon, will occur on the night from February 1 to 2 at exactly 23:09. According to astronomy popularizer Karol Wójcicki, this will make the night exceptionally bright.
The name for the February full moon was given by indigenous inhabitants of North America as a direct reference to the season and snowfall common in the northern hemisphere during this period.
“Fresh, clean snow is one of the best natural ‘mirrors’ on Earth,” explained Wójcicki. “Its albedo reaches 80-90%, meaning it reflects up to 90% of light falling on it. For comparison: bare earth reflects only 10-20%, forests even less.” This results in a landscape up to five times brighter than usual.
Highest Full Moon of the Year
The upcoming full moon will be one of the highest of this winter and of the entire year 2026, according to scientists.
“At 23:53 – just 44 minutes after the full moon – the Moon will culminate in Warsaw at an altitude of 56 degrees above the southern horizon,” stated Wójcicki. “This is the second highest result in 2026 – it only rose higher on the night of January 2/3 (65 degrees) and will rise just as high during the full moon of November 24.”
He concluded that “this night will be extremely bright.”
IMGW and MSWiA Warn of the Coldest Night of Winter
The upcoming night will not only be the brightest but also the coldest of the winter season.
The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has issued second-degree warnings of severe frost for northeastern Poland, where temperatures could drop to -30 degrees Celsius in some places. First-degree warnings apply to Western Pomerania, central Poland, and the southeast.
School Cancellations Due to Extreme Cold
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration announced on Sunday, February 1, that some schools have canceled lessons scheduled for Monday.
The cancellations affect schools in the Mazowieckie, Pomeranian, and Warmian-Masurian voivodeships, according to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Wiesław Szczepański.
The announcement came after a meeting with services called in connection with severe frosts in Poland, attended by voivodes, police and fire service commanders, and representatives of meteorological and road authorities.
