Poland hits 40.5°C record, raising water‑shortage warnings

Poland recorded a national temperature high of 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) in the border town of Słubice, breaking the 1921 record of 40.2 °C set in Proszkowo. Meteorological authorities warned that temperatures could reach 42 °C in some regions, with night lows expected between 18 °C and 25 °C. The extreme heat is part of a broader European heatwave that saw nearby German and Czech towns register temperatures above 41 °C.

Environmental expert Maciej Zalewski said the record underscores Poland’s growing vulnerability to water shortages. He urged restoration of forests and wetlands, as well as changes to intensive agriculture, such as planting tree belts and vegetated buffer strips, to improve water retention and reduce soil degradation. The expert emphasized that climate adaptation must go beyond emissions cuts to include ecosystem‑based measures that also moderate local temperatures.