Poland's longest river sees historically low levels

The Vistula River has reached a historic low, with water levels at the Warsaw-Bulwary monitoring station dropping to just 25 centimeters, according to data from Poland’s Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW).

A drone photo showing the low water level of the Vistula River near Kępa Zawadowska in Warsaw, September 8.

Photo: PAP/Leszek Szymański

Grzegorz Walijewski, a hydrologist and spokesperson for IMGW, warns that the water level could drop even further.

"Currently, in Warsaw, the water level is one centimeter below the previous record from 2015. Preliminary forecasts indicate it could fall to 22 centimeters, and it’s possible it will go even lower next week," he said.

The hydrological drought extends beyond the Vistula, with nearly 300 out of 600 hydrological stations across Poland reporting drought conditions.

An alarming 70% of rivers in the country are now experiencing low-water levels, a direct result of the ongoing heatwaves.

(ał)

Source: IAR