The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) issued level-one alerts on 12 May covering thunderstorms in 13 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships and overnight frost in mountain districts of Małopolska and Silesia. The warnings, valid through the early hours of 13 May, predict wind gusts up to 70 km/h and ground temperatures as low as –3 °C. While such alerts are routine, they carry practical consequences for mobility planners. Regional airports such as Białystok-Krywlany and Nowy Targ have already cautioned general-aviation pilots about possible diversion. Road-temperature differentials may require truck operators to switch to winter-grade diesel additives in highland routes. Employers organising executive travel should monitor rail operators PKP Intercity and Polregio for potential delays, particularly on the Warsaw–Białystok and Kraków–Zakopane lines that traverse storm-prone areas. Event organisers in the affected regions are encouraged to review force-majeure clauses, as insurance payouts often hinge on official IMGW advisories. Although the alerts are the lowest on IMGW’s three-tier scale, the institute reminded travellers that isolated hail can cause sudden motorway slowdowns and airport ground-handling suspensions, advising an extra buffer of at least 60 minutes in itineraries until the system moves eastward.
Source: Radio ESKA Warszawa
