Severe July storms flood Polish cities, shut roads and disrupt Krakow airport

On July 18‑19, 2026, intense thunderstorms swept across Poland, bringing torrential rain, strong gales and occasional hail. In Białystok, streets were quickly submerged, dozens of cars were stranded and emergency services worked to clear fallen trees and recover lost licence plates. Nearby towns such as Wasilków also suffered flooding.

Biała Podlaska experienced similar flash‑flood conditions, with many roads underwater and local hydrological alerts issued across several voivodeships. In Warsaw, the S8 expressway near Annopol was inundated, leaving two lanes underwater and forcing traffic onto a single lane while drivers risked vehicle damage.

The weather also hit the aviation sector: Kraków‑Balice airport faced multiple flight delays and diversions, with several aircraft placed in holding patterns over the Silesian region before being rerouted to alternate airports such as Wrocław and Poznań. No injuries were reported, but the storms caused significant transport disruptions nationwide.