Poland’s Vistula River hits record-low water level amid worsening drought
Experts warn of water shortages as heat and lack of rain dry up country’s longest river
Poland's Vistula river hits low levels in the Capital as drought
LONDON
Poland's longest and most culturally significant river, the Vistula, has reached record-low water levels, as the country grapples with a deepening drought and unrelenting heat.
Measurements from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) show that Vistula’s water level at Warsaw-Bulwary station dropped to just 19 centimeters, breaking the previous record of 20 cm set in September 2023. Historically, the river at this location averages around 230 cm.
In Warsaw’s Nadwiślańska neighborhood, water levels also fell sharply, measured at 49 cm, which is 7 cm below last year’s low and far beneath the usual seasonal level of about 130 cm.
The IMGW has issued 50 drought warnings so far this year, citing extremely low rainfall and humidity as key factors contributing to deteriorating soil and critically reduced river flows.
“The current conditions are alarming,” an IMGW spokesperson said. “The lack of precipitation, high evaporation, and prolonged heat are accelerating water shortages across the country.”
The drought comes as much of Europe experiences sweltering summer heat. Parts of France, Spain, the UK, and Poland saw temperatures soar above 40C in June and early July, prompting widespread heat alerts.
Stretching over 1,000 kilometers from the Silesian mountains in the south to the Baltic Sea in the north, the Vistula has long been a vital waterway for Poland’s environment, economy, and heritage.
