On November 20, Poland will see a quiet day before a heavy snowfall begins Thursday night, prompting the Polish Institute of Meteorology to issue second‑level alerts.
Quiet Thursday
On Thursday, November 20, weather will remain mild. Occasional light, brief precipitation, mainly in the north and west, with the south expecting some snowfall over Podhale.
The calm is a prelude to the winter assault that will start Thursday night. The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) forecasts a very heavy snowfall area associated with the Genoa low forming over the Mediterranean, expected to bring continuous snow through Saturday morning, especially over Małopolska, Podkarpacie, and the southern Silesian voivodeship.
Where will the most snow fall?
Meteorological models predict up to 20–30 cm of blizzard‑quality snow in mountainous and highland regions, while other parts of the mentioned voivodeships may receive only a few centimeters. Northern areas will get brief, scattered downpours.
Such rapid snow accumulation could disrupt communication and local traffic. IMGW plans to issue a level‑two alert over the Carpathian foothills, with level‑one alerts likely elsewhere.
How the snowstorm forms
The situation is being shaped by cold air reaching as far as Italy, triggering the Genoa low. By Friday, November 21, its center will lie near the Hungary–Romania border, while the associated front will maintain continual snowfall across southeastern Poland.
Within a span of 12 hours the snow depth could reach several tens of centimeters, exceeding 30 cm in the mountains. Synoptic forecasters do not rule out shifts in the precipitation zone; if the front moves closer to the border, freezing drizzle or ice‑puddle rain could occur.
Warmer weekend
From Saturday, November 22, a gradual, mild improvement in weather is expected. Snow may still fall in Podkarpacie, but considerably lighter. Nationwide maximum temperatures should hover around 1–2 °C.
Sunday’s temperatures are anticipated to stay around 0 °C.
