Meteorologists have warned of ‘an alarming fire risk’ across almost all of Poland this weekend and have urged the public to use forests “responsibly” as temperatures soar to over 30°C.
The persistent heatwave and minimal rainfall have contributed to dangerously low moisture levels in forest litter and significantly reduced surface and groundwater levels.
Ewelina Szklarzewska from the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Poland’s northeastern city of Białystok told private broadcaster TVN: “Let’s use the forests responsibly by parking vehicles in designated areas, not blocking fire access roads, so as not to hinder firefighting operations.
“We absolutely do not use fire, we do not smoke cigarettes, we do not leave glass bottles.”
The staggering increase to 12-13°C above the average for September temperatures is due to a massive Kazakh-Russian high-pressure system that has been pushing very hot air into central Europe.
The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW), said this weekend’s fire danger is classified as extremely high throughout nearly the entire country, though slightly lower in the country’s southern region of Pomerania and the southern edges of Lower Silesia, Silesia, and Lesser Poland regions.
According to meteorologists the extreme weather conditions are incredibly rare.
Meteorologist Tomasz Wasilewski told TVN that such extreme temperatures in early September are unprecedented, not only for Poland but also for neighboring regions like Sweden and Norway, where September temperatures have surpassed 30°C for the first time.
“Such a thing happens very rarely. It is an exceptional situation,” he said.
Meteorologists have also warned that the temperature deviation is a significant indicator of the broader problem of climate change.
Ewelina Szklarzewska from the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Poland’s northeastern city of Białystok told private broadcaster TVN: “Let’s use the forests responsibly by parking vehicles in designated areas, not blocking fire access roads, so as not to hinder firefighting operations.
“We absolutely do not use fire, we do not smoke cigarettes, we do not leave glass bottles.”
The staggering increase to 12-13°C above the average for September temperatures is due to a massive Kazakh-Russian high-pressure system that has been pushing very hot air into central Europe.
The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW), said this weekend’s fire danger is classified as extremely high throughout nearly the entire country, though slightly lower in the country’s southern region of Pomerania and the southern edges of Lower Silesia, Silesia, and Lesser Poland regions.
On Thursday, the risk of fire outbreak was also classified as extreme across almost all of Poland.Temperatura powietrza oraz temperatura odczuwalna o godzinie 17:00. #pogoda #pomiary #StacjeSynoptyczne #temperatura #IMGWCMM #IMGWmodele https://t.co/FSxM3e2suc pic.twitter.com/mh0cjPuY7M
— IMGW-PIB Centrum Modelowania Meteorologicznego (@IMGW_CMM) September 6, 2024
An exceptional situationPrognoza modelu nowcastingowego INCA-PL2 z #temperatura +8 godz. #nowcasting #IMGWCMM #IMGWmodele https://t.co/FSxM3e2suc pic.twitter.com/XmMCC5HnwB
— IMGW-PIB Centrum Modelowania Meteorologicznego (@IMGW_CMM) September 6, 2024
According to meteorologists the extreme weather conditions are incredibly rare.
Meteorologist Tomasz Wasilewski told TVN that such extreme temperatures in early September are unprecedented, not only for Poland but also for neighboring regions like Sweden and Norway, where September temperatures have surpassed 30°C for the first time.
“Such a thing happens very rarely. It is an exceptional situation,” he said.
Meteorologists have also warned that the temperature deviation is a significant indicator of the broader problem of climate change.
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