Poland’s Vistula River, the longest river in the nation, has reached a record-low water level in Warsaw due to prolonged drought conditions, reported by the national weather agency. On Sunday, measurements at a Warsaw station indicated that water levels dropped to a mere 25 centimeters (10 inches), setting a new low by surpassing the previous record by one centimeter, according to data from the IMGW weather institute.
The IMGW highlighted the severity of the situation, noting, “It’s worse than in 2015—and the water continues to fall!” This statement was made public on X, previously known as Twitter.
IMGW hydrologist Grzegorz Walijewski emphasized the persistent hydrological drought affecting most of Poland’s rivers. “Since 2015, we have experienced a continuous state of drought,” Walijewski stated during an interview with AFP.
Attributing this worrying trend to climate change, he explained that milder winters producing less snowfall, coupled with increased temperatures and reduced rainfall, have significantly contributed to the declining water levels.
The Vistula River, stretching over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), plays a crucial role in the country’s ecosystem and economy as it flows through the heart of Poland and into the Baltic Sea.
