Poland endures record heat and violent storms across the country
Late June 2026 saw an unprecedented heatwave sweep Poland, with temperatures reaching 40.5 °C in Słubice – the highest reading in the nation’s official records – and 38.9 °C in Słubicach. Meteorological services issued second‑degree alerts for most regions, warning of heavy rain (30‑55 mm in short periods), hail and wind gusts up to 100 km/h. The storm system moved from the west to the east, affecting large parts of Lower Silesia, Łódź, Wielkopolska, Świętokrzyskie and other voivodeships.
The extreme weather triggered widespread disruptions. The national grid operator announced “red hours” and called on power generators to supply extra capacity; localized blackouts were reported in Kutno, Rybnik and the surrounding areas. Strong winds damaged roofs, snapped trees and felled power lines, prompting fire‑brigade interventions in dozens of municipalities. Transport networks suffered: over 1 000 emergency calls were logged, more than 350 incidents involved fallen trees or blocked roads, and the railway system cancelled hundreds of passenger trains and halted freight services to avoid track deformation. Authorities urged residents to secure objects on balconies, avoid open spaces, and keep children and pets safe from heat stress.
Forecasters expect the heat to persist into early July, with a possible second wave that could bring temperatures above 40 °C in western Europe. At the same time, the storm front may continue delivering intense precipitation and hail over Poland.
The event also produced a high‑altitude record: 25.7 °C on Śnieżka in the Karkonosze, the highest ever measured at that elevation.