Strong heat and cold waves in Poland in relation with the large-scale atmospheric circulation

Abstract

Occurrence of heat and cold waves in Poland in the years 1966–2015 (1966/1967–2015/2016) was described, and their circulation conditions were determined in this study. A heat wave is defined as a period of at least 3 days with Tmax > 30.0 °C and a cold wave as a period of at least 3 days with Tmax <− 10.0 °C. Heat waves occurred most often in central and southern Poland and cold waves in north-eastern Poland. The occurrence of both heat and cold waves is related to high pressure systems. Anticyclonic blocking patterns both in winter and summer inhibit the zonal flow of air masses and intensify the meridional flow. Positive sea level pressure anomalies occurred over the study area, in the case of heat waves up to 3 hPa and in the case of cold waves up to 11 hPa. Perpendicular profiles showing geopotential height and air temperature anomalies in the troposphere were identified for the selected cases of extreme temperature episodes. Centres of geopotential height positive/negative anomalies were detected at the level of 300–250 hPa geopotential height, right over the area of the positive/negative surface temperature extremes.