Poland upgrades emergency alert systems amid weather warnings

Poland is implementing significant upgrades to its emergency alert infrastructure. The Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) has signed a letter of intent to introduce the Cell Broadcast system, which is expected to be operational after the summer of 2027. This technology will allow mobile phones to act as alarm sirens, vibrating and emitting loud sounds even when in standby or silent mode to alert citizens of immediate threats.

In conjunction with these technological shifts, authorities are emphasizing the use of the Regional Warning System (RSO) mobile application. Despite the system having issued nearly 7,000 warnings in the first half of 2026, usage remains low, with only about one in one hundred residents utilizing the app. The RSO provides meteorological, hydrological, and road safety updates.

Currently, several weather-related alerts are active. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) has issued a hydrological drought warning for the Łódź Voivodeship, specifically concerning low water flows in the Prosna river. Additionally, first-degree warnings for dense fog have been issued for parts of the Mazovian and Lublin Voivodeships, posing risks to road safety and visibility.