By Ken, Teacher in Warsaw
Hello, hello, it’s been a while since I last posted!
Since it’s FINALLY stopped snowing in Poland (it’s the end of April as I write this) I thought that it’d be a good time to introduce you to the trials and tribulations that come with dealing with the Polish “pogoda”, or weather to you and me. Having been born and raised in Scotland I thought I’d be pretty well prepared for whatever Poland could throw at me, but how wrong I was. Let me explain……it’s not all bad, I promise! So grab your gloves and sunscreen and let’s take a look at what you can expect……….
Winter (Zima)
Speaking of “bad”, this year’s winter lasted SIX MONTHS. It has snowed every month since November with temperatures from a rather chilly -15 at night to just above freezing during the day in Warsaw. Between December and February I can honestly say I could count on one hand the number of times I saw the sun! It is very difficult, and if you’re like me and get SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) I’d definitely recommend investing in a special lamp to get through the long and depressingly dreary Winters. It is unbelievably cloudy, so cloudy to the point that you’ll forget what the Sun actually is. Grey, grey and more grey! And yes, it snows quite a bit! You may decide to become a bird and migrate until the Spring.
Spring (Wiosna)
Spring is finally in the air as I write this, and what a relief! Spring is supposed to start in March, and last until May. However this year it’s decided to start at almost the beginning of May.
Expect similar temperatures to the UK in Spring, ranging from a cool 10 degrees to low 20s. The temperatures do tend to fluctuate wildly throughout, an example of being that 2 weeks ago it was a rather warm 23 degrees, and then 3 days later it was 8 degrees and almost minus at night! (temperature fluctuations are relatively common throughout the year) We also have a lot of Spring Holidays, with the “Majówka” holiday at the beginning of May often combined with Constitution Day. Many Poles take this whole week off.
It may also snow in Spring, especially in April. So you’ll still need that big coat and gloves! However, Spring in Poland is super nice and feels like a godsend after the dreadfully dreariness of Winter.
Summer (Lato)
As Darren Day would sing, we’re all going on a Summer holiday and this is of course when most people go on holidays. Many Polish people love nature and long walks and hikes to keep healthy and also to really make the most of the sun whilst it is still blazing and showering us with warmth (did I mention how dreary the Winters are?). Temperatures can range from somewhat low 20s to swelteringly high 30s (thanks global warming) and the Summers here, unlike back in Scotland, are actually good. So yes, you’ll need sunscreen and a few pairs of shorts! Also it is worth noting that most Polish houses don’t have air conditioning, so purchasing a fan is essential.
It is, however, almost always sunny! I’d estimate that last Summer it was sunny at least 80% of the time.
Autumn/Fall (Jesień)
Finally, Autumn. Or Fall for those of you across the pond.
Autumn tends to start in September and is supposed to last 3 months, however one could argue it only lasted 2 months last year, with it already snowing last November. A Polish Autumn is very similar to a British Autumn, with temperatures gradually decreasing into the low 10s. The weather is not too bad, with some sunny days but with cloudy days becoming a lot more frequent.
Weathering the (Polish) storm
You’ll be glad to know that extreme weather doesn’t really exist in Poland, with the last extremely disastrous spell of weather over 20 years ago in 1997 where almost half of Wroclaw was flooded by one of Poland’s worst floods in living memory. So no hurricanes, forest fires or tsunamis to worry about! Earthquakes also don’t exist here as they do all the time in Asia. You might get the odd thunderstorm in Summer to clear the air and from time to time you’ll experience strong winds, but apart from that it’s very safe.
Just don’t be surprised if it snows in 7 different months of the year!
To conclude….
If you can get through Winter, you’re in for a treat. With so many cities and things to see and do, spending Spring and Summer in Poland is fantastic. Just make the most of it as you really don’t know when you’ll see the sun next. Winter here doesn’t always last 6 months, so fingers crossed it doesn’t next year!
If you’d like to see what opportunities are available this year, why not explore our program page or submit an application?
