Lightning Strikes Warsaw Skyscrapers as Storm and Heat Alerts Issued

The overnight storm warning for Warsaw itself expired on Tuesday morning, having forecast around 25 millimetres of rainfall alongside wind gusts of up to 80 kilometres per hour and the possibility of hail. Despite the warning expiring, conditions across Poland remain unsettled and potentially hazardous, with different parts of the country now facing distinct but overlapping threats from both storms and prolonged heat.

Storm Alerts in the West, Heat Warnings in the East
The current picture across Poland divides broadly into two different weather threats depending on the region. Western Poland, including parts of the southwest, is operating under active storm alerts, with second-degree warnings from meteorological authorities running from 3 o'clock in the afternoon until midnight on Tuesday. These areas can expect 30 to 40 millimetres of rainfall, wind gusts of around 90 kilometres per hour, and a significant risk of hail. Neighbouring zones just outside the highest-alert areas are under first-degree warnings, with slightly lower rainfall totals of 20 to 30 millimetres and gusts reaching approximately 80 kilometres per hour.

Central, eastern, and southern Poland, including Warsaw, face a very different challenge. Large portions of these regions are under heat warnings, and the capital is operating under the highest available tier, a third-degree heat warning, which is in place until Thursday. Daytime temperatures are expected to reach between 33 and 38 degrees Celsius across Warsaw and surrounding areas, with overnight lows offering only modest relief, remaining between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius. Conditions of that kind pose genuine risks, particularly for vulnerable populations including the elderly and those without access to air conditioning.

What the Warnings Mean for Residents
The combination of severe storms in the west and sustained extreme heat in the centre and east of the country means that Tuesday presents a split but serious weather picture for Poland as a whole. Those in storm-affected areas should take precautions against flooding, structural damage from high winds, and the hazards associated with heavy hail. In the heat-affected zones, the priority is avoiding prolonged exposure to high temperatures during peak afternoon hours. Authorities have put these warnings in place to give the public enough notice to prepare, and the overnight footage from Warsaw's skyline serves as a sharp illustration of just how intense the atmospheric conditions have become across the country in recent days.