Polish city Elbląg declares flood alert as river exceeds warning level

Polish authorities declared a flood alert in Elbląg on Saturday night after water levels in the Elbląg river exceeded the warning threshold of 590 centimetres and continued rising, Mayor Michał Missan announced.

The rising levels were caused by a backwater effect, in which strong northwesterly winds pushed water from the Vistula lagoon upstream into the river, significantly increasing the risk of flooding in areas along the waterway.

Emergency services deployed flood barriers in vulnerable areas as authorities monitored water levels at gauges in the Elbląg area, all of which exceeded warning thresholds.

Missan said all services remained on standby whilst the hydrological situation was continuously monitored. He urged residents on social media to exercise caution.

The Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management issued alerts warning of strong winds across the region, which may persist for several hours. Forecasters also predicted icy conditions that could hamper rescue efforts.

No evacuation order or large-scale flooding has been declared, but the situation remained in flux. Local services said they would not rule out further intervention if weather conditions worsened.

Elbląg, located in northeastern Poland along the eponymous river, faces flood risks from its position between Druzno lake and the Vistula lagoon. The city lies within Żuławy Wiślane, a Vistula river delta plain where substantial portions sit below sea level.