Weather and mountains — 25 September
Snow in Poland: the Tatras turn wintry ahead of the weekend
Snow has returned to the Tatra peaks. Snow and ice are making high-altitude hikes more difficult ahead of the weekend of 26–27 September.
Original AI-generated illustration: a landscape inspired by the Tatras, not a documentary image or an exact depiction of current snow cover. Information checked on 25 September 2026.
Autumn has barely begun, but the mountains of southern Poland already have a wintry appearance. According to PAP reporting carried by o2 on 24 September, snow began falling on Monday in the higher parts of the Tatras. After several cloudy days, clearer skies made the snow-covered peaks visible again from Zakopane.
The contrast is striking, but conditions call for caution. In its bulletin consulted on Friday, the Tatra National Park reports snow and patches of ice above 1,700 metres. Sections near flowing water, particularly around the Siklawa waterfall, are especially slippery. Lower trails remain wet and muddy.
An avalanche risk has also been reported. At our latest check, the bulletin displayed by the TOPR mountain rescue service, valid until 8 pm on 26 September, described the risk as low. This assessment has a limited period of validity: it should not be treated as a forecast for the entire weekend. Hikers should consult the current bulletin before setting off.
For visitors, a break in the clouds does not mean that high-altitude routes have returned to summer conditions. TOPR stresses that its bulletins do not replace an assessment of the situation on the ground. Plans must take account of experience, skills and changes in the weather.
Ahead of the weekend, the park recommends checking conditions and the weather before every hike, carrying clothing suitable for falling temperatures and finishing the walk before nightfall. A less ambitious outing, or a visit to Zakopane itself, can provide an alternative when equipment or experience are not suited to the conditions encountered.
These observations concern the Tatras and their higher terrain. They do not establish that a widespread snowfall event is affecting the whole of Poland.