Forecast: climate stress test awaits Polish cities as heat and lack of rain hit this year
Polish cities may face a hotter and more unstable summer in 2026, according to IMGW-PIB’s experimental long-term forecast. After an extremely warm March and very dry April, the main risk is not only heat but also the rapid combination of drought, storms, heavy rainfall and local flooding. March was Poland’s third-warmest since 1951 and also extremely dry, while April brought only 30.2% of normal rainfall. Experts warn that “warmer than usual” does not mean constant heatwaves, and normal rainfall does not rule out downpours or long dry spells.
Cities must use local climate data to prepare adaptation plans, including more greenery, water retention, rainwater management, improved drainage and stronger crisis-response procedures.
