The water level in the Vistula is slowly stabilizing. Although the upper reaches of the river still exceed warning and alarm levels, the first drops are occurring. The flood wave is currently in the vicinity of Sandomierz.
A flood wave on Vistula is currently moving around Sandomierztowards Annopol (Lublin Voivodeship).
– At the moment, the water level is 355 centimetres. This is a high level and there should be no exceedances of warning and alarm levels – Michał Sikora, hydrologist and forecaster at the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, told tvnmeteo.pl.
According to the latest forecasts, the largest increases will currently occur from the mouth of the Raba River, which flows through the Małopolska Province. – They are in the high-level zone. Even on the upper Vistula, alarm and warning levels have been exceeded – the expert informed.
He added that the next water gauges will most likely show increases, but in the high water zone, without exceeding the warning and alarm levels.
Flooded areas in the village of Skidziń in the Małopolska province – photo taken on September 15PAP/Michal Meissner
The situation in the Lublin region
The Lublin Voivodeship Commander of the State Fire Service, Brigadier Zenon Pisiewicz, noted that the hydrological situation in the region is stable.
Currently, there are elevated water levels on several local rivers, including the Krzno and Wojsławka, but there is no flood risk there. Information on water levels in the Lublin province shows that on Monday the water level on the Vistula and Bug was significantly below warning levels.
According to the Lublin services, the peak wave on the Vistula will reach the Lublin region within a few days. – We expect there will be increases on the Vistula. Probably within about a week, this water, which is now much higher in Krakow and Auschwitzwill come to us. The time it takes for the flood wave to reach us is quite long, but we will be able to say it a few days in advance – informed Senior Brigadier Zenon Pisiewicz.
The Lublin provincial commander of the State Fire Service added that the Vistula’s tributaries, including the San from Podkarpacie, are also crucial for the wave height.
The Voivode of Lublin, Krzysztof Komorski, said that the forecasts available until Wednesday show that the Vistula River in the Lublin region will not exceed warning levels at that time.
Flooded areas in the village of Skidziń in the Małopolska province – photo taken on September 15PAP/Michal Meissner
The hydrological situation in the Mazowieckie province is also stable, and the river levels are below warning levels. As reported by the hydrologist IMWM Michał Sikora, the flood wave on the Vistula should reach Warsaw in the middle water zone
Water levels in rivers before 27:00 on Tuesday 17.09Red – alarm status, orange – warning status, yellow – high zone, blue – medium zone, black – low zoneIMWM
Main image source: PAP/Michal Meissner