Climate in Poland

IntroductionPoland is located in the temperate climate zone

between the temperate oceanic climate in the west and temperate continental one in the east.

Poland has a moderate climate with both maritime and continental elements. This is due to humid Atlantic air which collides over its area with dry air from the Eurasian interior.

WindsThe wind pattern is

not uniform throughout the year.

In summer, the winds are mainly westerly.

In winter, the winds are mainly easterly.

In the transitory seasons, both winds occur roughly with the same frequency.

TEMPERATURE :

The average annual temperature in Poland is about 8 C and varies for the regions of Poland depending on height above sea level and distance from the Baltic Sea.

The hottest month is July. The coldest month is January. The hottest is the Silesian

Lowland. The coldest spot is the north-

eastern corner around Suwalki.

Seasons Poland has as many as six

distinct seasons. Apart from the four typical European seasons, there are also two periods described as early spring (przedwiosnie) and early winter (przedzimie).

The seasons hardly conform to the calendar pattern.

During the przedwiosnie, which is about a month long, the average daily air temperature ranges from 0 C to 5 C.

Spring in Poland lasts usually about 60 days and comes from the west. The daily temperature at that time ranges from 5 C to 15 C.

Areas with the lowest and highest precipitation

The driest part of Poland is a region abounding in lakes and rivers – Kujawy.

The Tatras have the highest precipitation.

The period from April to October has more precipitation then the winter half-year.

Average amount of precipitaion throughout the year is 600mm.  

Cloudiness

Visible effect of the collisions of air masses above Poland is cloudiness.

The number of cloudy days is between 60 and 70 percent, which is relatively high.

The most cloudy regions are the lake districts in the north and the Sudetes.

The least cloudy are Wielkopolska and the Silesian Lowland.

Extra informationThe heaviest precipitation in Poland was recorded in

June 1973 in the Tatra's Hala Gasienicowa. During one rain as much as 30cm of water fell. With Poland's predominantly westerly winds, the highest precipitation occurs on western slopes of mountains and hills.

Occasionally, Poland witnesses extraordinary precipitation. In 1901, when winds brought dust from Sahara, a black-brown rain fell. 71 years later the same phenomenon was responsible for orange snow in Zakopane. The maximum precipitation is in summer.