Polish Weather
About Weather In Poland
The weather in Poland changes very rapidly. And those weather changes are dependent on air coming in from the Arctic/Russia or from the Atlantic. The shifts can be fast and when they occur, the weather changes quickly.
In general one can say that the summers are pleasant and the winters are downright cold and uncomfortable.
Before you travel, here are some places to look for the current and long range weather forecasts.
Current Weather
For current weather conditions in Poland for various cities, go to this Poland Weather Conditions By City link. You can get the current conditions for major cities in Poland by putting your mouse over the name of the city that is below the maps.
Forecast Conditions
For a forecast and more information, go to Poland Weather Forecast link. This link shows you the weather in each of the regions in Poland and gives you a three day weather forecast
Satellite Weather Images
Conditions for today and the next two days following can be also seen in the navigation bar of our main page. You will also find other weather services that give current conditions via satellite and local radar plus other information about Poland. Poland Weather Current Conditions
Weather And Climate Information
Poland has a moderate climate with both maritime and continental weather elements. This is due to humid Atlantic air which collides over its territory with dry air from the Eurasian interior.
Generally, in northern and western Poland the weather is predominantly maritime, with gentle, humid winters and cool, rainy summers, while the eastern part of the country has distinctly continental climate with harsh winters and hotter, drier summers.
The hottest month is July and the coldest one is January. Below-zero temperatures occur from November to March. The best time to visit Poland is between May and September when the weather tends to be warm and sunny. September is the beginning of an exceptionally fine weather spell known as golden Polish summer.
Winds
For a major part of the year Poland has predominantly west circulation of winds (60 percent of all windy days). In summer months, that is from July to September, the winds, particularly in southern Poland, are mainly westerly, whereas in winter, notably in December and January, easterly winds prevail. Usually the winds in Poland are weak to moderate, their speed ranging from 2 to 10 m/s. Strong and very strong winds occur at the seaside, causing storms, and in the mountains, where their speed may exceed 30 m/s. Hurricanes that uproot trees and blow off roofs are rather rare in Poland.
Cloudiness And Precipitation
The number of cloudy days is between 60 and 70 percent, which is relatively high. The Polish sky is the most overcast in November and the least in August and September. The annual precipitation is between 400 and 750 mm with the maximum in summer. Winters are snowy and snow stays the longest in the mountains (up to 200 days) and north-west Poland (90-120 days). The western part of the country sees the least snow (40-50 days).
Temperature
The average annual temperature in Poland ranges from 5-7�C in the hilly Pomeranian and Masurian Lake Districts and in the uplands to 8-10�C in the belt of the sub-Carpathian basins, the Silesian Lowland and the Wielkopolska Lowland. The hottest month is July with the average temperature 16-19�C. Hot days, when the temperature exceeds 25�C, occur from May to September. The coldest month in Poland is January. Sub-zero temperatures are recorded between November and March.
Seasons
Poland has as many as six distinct weather seasons. Apart from the four typical European seasons, there are also two periods described as early spring (przedwiosnie) and early winter (przedzimie). The seasons hardly conform to the calendar weather pattern. Spring in Poland lasts usually about 60 days. Summer begins in May and is about four months long. Almost every year, mid-September sees the coming of Polish Indian summer, which is a warm and sunny transition between summer and autumn. Early November is the beginning of winter, which tends to end in March.
The Hottest And Coldest Areas
The hottest part of Poland is the Silesian Lowland, strongly influenced by the Atlantic air. The coldest spot is the north-east corner around Suwalki. With its morainal hills, postglacial lakes and low temperatures, this region bears much similarity to the distant Scandinavia. Harsh and long winters, lasting over four months, earned it the name of Poland's cold pole.
Areas With The Lowest And Highest Precipitation
The driest part of Poland is Kujawy, while the Tatras have the highest precipitation. June is usually the rainiest month of the year. February is the least likely month for any precipitation (in high mountains, it is September).
