View of streets in Przemyśl after overnight heavy snowfall, November 22, 2025
© PAP/Darek DelmanowiczView of streets in Przemyśl after overnight heavy snowfall, November 22, 2025
Temperatures across the eastern half of Europe experienced a significant drop this week, with the Alpine region recording frigid lows of -20°C and the Polish town of Zakopane in the Tatras Mountains registering -8.5°C. This severe cold snap was accompanied by heavy snowfall across Poland, where the central region received between 15 to 20 centimeters (approximately 6 to 8 inches) of snow, while southern areas near the mountains were blanketed with over 40 centimeters.

The inclement weather was attributed to an area of low pressure moving northward from the Balkans, which collided with cold Arctic air mass hovering over Poland. This combination resulted in a series of emergency situations, with firefighters responding to 2,900 callouts and more than 75,000 homes in Rzeszów left without electricity due to the heavy snowfall.

Adding to the complications in the region, an Embraer E170STD aircraft, which has a capacity for 80 passengers, skidded off the runway upon landing during a flight from Warsaw to Vilnius. The incident caused significant disruptions at the airport, resulting in delays that extended for several hours and ultimately grounding the return flight.