Storm Alerts as Heavy Rains Hit Southeast Poland

The news in Polish

1. burza  (f.)
   zjawisko atmosferyczne z deszczem, silnym wiatrem i błyskawicami oraz grzmotami ↩︎
2. południowy
   dotyczący południa, leżący w kierunku południa ↩︎
3. wschód  (m.)
   kierunek świata, z którego wschodzi słońce ↩︎
4. grad  (m.)
   opad z nieba w postaci małych kawałków lodu ↩︎
5. alert  (m.)
   ważna, pilna informacja o niebezpieczeństwie lub zagrożeniu ↩︎
6. ostrożność  (f.)
   uważne zachowanie, żeby nie zrobić sobie lub innym krzywdy ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: In which part of Poland is the bad weather especially strong?

Question 2: What do the authorities tell people not to do with their cars during the storm?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
burza  (f.)	thunderstorm
południowy	southern
wschód  (m.)	east
grad  (m.)	hail
alert  (m.)	alert
ostrożność  (f.)	caution

Read the full story

Polish authorities have issued a series of weather and safety alerts as heavy rain and thunderstorms move across much of the country, with the south‑eastern Podkarpackie region among the areas most at risk.

On Saturday, Poland’s Government Centre for Security (Rządowe Centrum Bezpieczeństwa, RCB) sent mobile phone alerts to residents and visitors in parts of Podkarpackie, including the cities of Rzeszów, Przemyśl, Krosno and the Bieszczady mountain districts. The text message warned of thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and strong winds, advising people to avoid open spaces and not to park cars under trees, due to the risk of falling branches.

According to local reports, Saturday morning in the region began with overcast skies and scattered showers. Around midday conditions were still relatively calm in some places, such as Rzeszów, with temperatures of about 16°C. Forecasters, however, expected the weather to deteriorate in the evening and overnight, bringing more intense downpours and stronger gusts of wind. In some locations, rainfall totals could reach up to 30 mm, with wind speeds during storms forecast to climb to around 70 km/h and a local risk of hail.

At the national level, the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (Instytut Meteorologii i Gospodarki Wodnej, IMGW) reported that Poland is under the influence of a large low‑pressure system. This weather pattern is bringing moist, unsettled and sometimes harsh conditions to many regions. IMGW issued first‑degree storm warnings for four voivodeships in the south and south‑east: Silesian, Lesser Poland (Małopolskie), Podkarpackie and Lublin. The alerts, in force on Saturday afternoon and evening, highlight the possibility of heavy rain of 20–30 mm, wind gusts up to 70 km/h and isolated hail with stones about 1–2 cm in diameter.

In the same southern and south‑eastern belt, IMGW also introduced hydrological warnings. These caution that intense rain and storms can cause rapid rises in river and stream levels, potentially leading to local flooding. According to the institute, first‑degree meteorological alerts signal that weather phenomena may be dangerous and could cause material damage and a risk to health and life, especially if people ignore safety recommendations.

The weekend forecast shows a clear regional contrast. On Saturday, eastern and south‑eastern Poland, including the Carpathian mountains, are expected to be the wettest, with widespread cloud cover and periods of heavier rain. In many other areas, particularly in the west and north‑west, the sky should remain mostly cloudy but with more bright intervals. There, only isolated showers and weak thunderstorms are anticipated, with rainfall generally staying below 15 mm and wind gusts around 60 km/h.

Temperatures will also vary significantly. Most of the country will see 12–16°C during the day, but the far south‑east may reach 19–22°C, making it noticeably warmer than central and southern interior regions. In parts of Silesia, Lesser Poland and the Świętokrzyskie area, daytime values could fall to only 9–12°C, with even cooler conditions in some mountainous locations.

Overnight, the weather is forecast to remain unsettled in the east and south‑east, where rain will continue and the last storms may still occur. Rainfall in these areas may total 5–20 mm, and in the Carpathians up to 30 mm. Higher in the Sudetes and Carpathians, including the Tatra Mountains, the cold air could turn precipitation into rain mixed with snow or pure snow. Snow cover in the Tatras might increase by about 15 cm, making hiking conditions difficult.

Further west and north, the night is expected to be calmer, with lighter cloud cover and possible patches of fog reducing visibility to around 300 metres. Temperatures will drop more sharply there, to about 2–5°C, and some areas may experience ground frosts, with readings at ground level near −1°C. In the east, night‑time temperatures should remain milder, at 8–10°C, and around 12°C in the warmest south‑eastern fringe.

The unsettled pattern is forecast to continue into Sunday. Many regions will still see overcast skies and showers, especially in a band stretching from Silesia and Lesser Poland up towards Warmia, Masuria and Podlasie. Rainfall totals may again reach 5–15 mm, and in the Carpathians up to 20 mm. In the high Tatra peaks, snow cover could grow by an additional 10 cm.

Sunday’s temperatures are expected to range from about 10–14°C across a belt from the south to the north‑east and along the Baltic coast, to around 15–18°C in other parts of the country. The warmest air should once more be found on the eastern border regions, where values may climb to about 22°C. By contrast, some locations in the southern parts of Silesia and Lesser Poland may see only around 8°C. Wind will generally be light to moderate, mostly from the north, but can become gusty during storms, with gusts close to 60 km/h.

The capital, Warsaw, is also set for a rainy weekend. Forecasts for Saturday and Sunday point to extensive cloud cover and frequent showers, with daytime temperatures of around 13–14°C. Night‑time values are expected to be close to 9°C, with a mainly northerly wind that can occasionally strengthen.

Both the RCB and IMGW stress that, although these weather conditions are typical for a cool, unsettled spring pattern in Central Europe, people should take practical safety steps. Authorities recommend securing loose items on balconies and around houses, ensuring pets and farm animals are protected from wind and rain, and being cautious on the roads, especially where intense downpours or strong gusts may suddenly reduce visibility or make driving hazardous.

Info: ‘Polish Learner News’ is a service from ‘Let’s Learn Polish’, a language school offering online courses in Polish for learners at different levels. Through this service, we share updates, resources and study tips to support your Polish lessons.