RCB issues black ice warnings for 8 Polish voivodeships as freezing rain expected Thursday night into Friday.
RCB Warns of Black Ice in 8 Voivodeships
The night from Thursday to Friday (5/6 February) will bring freezing rain to Poland, which causes black ice. The Government Security Center has issued alerts for eight voivodeships, so their residents should be careful on roads and sidewalks. The warnings apply to the voivodeships: West Pomeranian, Pomeranian, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Greater Poland, Łódź, Masovian, Podlaskie, and Lublin. After 6:00 PM, the warning area was extended to include part of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship – districts: Braniewo, Działdowo, Elbląg, Elbląski, Iława, Lidzbark, Nidzica, Nowe Miasto, Olsztyn, Olsztyński, Ostróda, and Szczytno.
IMGW Forecast: Orange and Yellow Warnings
The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management forecasts the appearance of freezing rain or drizzle, which due to negative air temperature on the ground are freezing and cause the formation of black ice. Agnieszka Prasek from IMGW warned of difficult conditions. Currently, the predominant area of Poland is under level II and I warnings against freezing rain and black ice. In the afternoon, there will also be strong fog and mist causing rime. She also appealed to drivers to exercise particular caution, noting that roads will be wet and slippery with invisible black ice, and difficult conditions will persist over the weekend.
Paralysis of Southern Poland
On Thursday, February 5, before noon, the most difficult weather conditions prevailed in Lower Silesia and Opole. Rail transport had problems and delays on sections Rudna Gwizdanów – Głogów, Lubań – Gierałtów, Węgliniec – Bielawa, and Wrocław – Leszno. According to PKP PLK, “The remaining lines are passable, however trains may register delays resulting from previous interventions and the still dynamic weather situation. In places where icing occurs, network trains are working.” Additionally, due to atmospheric conditions, the railway infrastructure manager in Germany has introduced changes to train traffic, which also affects communication in Poland.
At night, there will be large and overcast clouds, with larger clearings and sunny spells forecast for the southern part of the country. Light rain or drizzle, locally freezing and causing black ice, and in the northern part of the country rain with snow, in the northeast and high in the Tatra Mountains also snow. In the south and center, locally fog reducing visibility below 200 m. Minimum temperature in the north from -5°C to -2°C, in the remaining area from -2°C to 1°C. Weak and moderate wind, locally gusty on the coast, from eastern directions. In the high parts of the Sudetes, windy, and high in the Tatra Mountains gusts up to 60 km/h.