Poland’s longest river, the Vistula, recorded its lowest-ever water level in Warsaw on Friday, reaching just 18 centimetres (7 inches) at one measuring station.
This new record, two centimetres below last year’s low, highlights an unprecedented drought gripping the country, according to the national weather agency, IMGW.
IMGW forecasts indicate the water level will continue to drop, potentially reaching 12 centimetres—200 centimetres less than its average depth.
IMGW hydrologist Grzegorz Walijewski stated that Poland has not experienced such a severe hydrological drought at this time of year “since measurements began,” attributing the crisis to climate change, including higher temperatures and reduced rainfall.
The record low follows a heatwave that saw Warsaw temperatures hit 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday.
Walijewski warned that the drought severely impacts “every branch of the economy,” particularly reducing agricultural harvests and driving up food prices.
He also noted that this issue extends beyond Poland, affecting neighbouring countries and being “definitely a European problem, and in many instances a global one.”
