Lower Silesia is preparing for severe flooding as the region braces for heavy rainfall in the coming days, with forecasts predicting up to 500 mm of rain in some areas. The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) issued warnings on Thursday, linking the extreme weather to the low-pressure system, Storm Boris, which is expected to impact areas near Kłodzko and Głuchołazy, with the storm’s center over Jeseník in the Czech Republic.
The most intense rainfall is expected in Lower Silesia, Opole, and Silesia, where accumulations could reach 150 liters per square meter by Sunday. The IMGW has issued top-level flood warnings for these regions, cautioning that overwhelmed drainage systems and rising river levels could lead to significant urban flooding and water surges from Friday through Sunday.
Wrocław Takes Extra Precautions as Flood Threat Looms, Emergency Services on High Alert
Wrocław, still recovering from the trauma of the catastrophic 1997 flood, has taken extra precautions. The city’s crisis management team has been activated, retention reservoirs have been emptied, and floodgates on the Oder River closed. Emergency services, including firefighters and the military, are on high alert, particularly in the Kłodzko Valley, where the first impacts of the storm are expected.
Although the rainfall is predicted to spread across central and eastern Poland by Saturday, the most severe effects will remain concentrated in Lower Silesia and Opole. While the rain may ease by Sunday, conditions are expected to remain wet and windy throughout the weekend, and residents are urged to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions.