Heat Dome Sweeps Across Europe as Poland Braces for 35-Degree Spikes

Following a heatwave in Italy and travel disruptions in France, a surge of tropical air is set to bring temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius to Poland this weekend.

Crisis in Italy and France

As Italy faces a “heat dome” with temperatures climbing toward 40 degrees, the Polish Embassy in Rome has issued safety warnings for tourists, advising them to avoid midday hours and monitor their health. In France, the SNCF has canceled 71 trains due to extreme heat, while schools have shortened lessons. Education Minister Edouard Geffray indicated that oral exams for graduating students may be postponed in some regions.

This is France’s second heatwave this spring, following an unusual surge in May that led to criticism regarding the government’s preparedness. Last Wednesday, ministers presented a national plan for climate change adaptation.

Record Heat Wave Moving to Poland

Tropical air moving into Poland will push temperatures above 30 degrees starting Friday, with western regions such as Lower Silesia, the Lubusz Land, and western Greater Poland reaching 32-34 degrees. Other regions will see 24-28 degrees, while the mountains and coast will remain cooler at 22-26 degrees.

Saturday will be even hotter, with western peaks hitting 33-35 degrees, also impacting the Silesian, Lodz, and Kuyavian regions. Temperatures will slightly decrease on Sunday and Monday, settling between 24-29 degrees following a stormy weekend.

Severe Weather and Storm Warnings

Friday will bring the strongest storms to western Poland, with potential wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h, hail up to 5 cm in diameter, and a slim chance of weak tornadoes. Saturday will see widespread storm activity; numerical models suggest either a multicellular storm system with 90-100 km/h gusts or scattered storms bringing heavy rain and 3-4 cm hail.

Storms will persist into Sunday, shifting their focus toward eastern and central regions, with some activity expected to last through the night.