Storm Bernadette devastates Poland's Baltic coast
A powerful low‑pressure system named Bernadette has struck northern Poland, bringing winds of up to 120 km/h and sea waves as high as five metres. The storm has flooded beaches in Krynica Morska, Piaski and Katy Rybackie, damaged coastal bars and prompted the evacuation of scout camps and other vulnerable sites.
Police, fire and rescue services are on the ground securing the most affected zones and urging residents and tourists to stay away from dangerous areas. The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management warns that heavy rain may deliver up to 30 litres of water per square metre, while temperatures have fallen to autumn‑like levels, reaching as low as 7 °C in the northeast.
Meteorologists expect the strongest gusts to subside later in the day, but they note that the system will move southwest toward Belarus, with cooler polar air following from the north, keeping conditions unsettled across the region for the next few days.