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Ice jam on the Vistula River

As a result of persistent frosts, ice phenomena including ice jams have formed on many rivers and water reservoirs, which can cause flooding. Currently, a difficult situation prevails in the section of the Vistula River from the mouth of the Narew River to Płock, where a flood alert has been announced. Ice has also accumulated on Lake Włocławskie and may potentially threaten the dam in Włocławek.

The Crisis Information Centre CBK PAN developed situational maps showing the ice jam in the vicinity of Płock and ice cover on Lake Włocławskie based on images from Sentinel constellation - radar Sentinel-1 and optical Sentinel-2 acquired on 6th, 7th and 9th February 2021. Radar images turn out to be particularly useful in this situation. In such images, the ice phenomena on the water take on a bright colour due to the rough structure, in contrast to the smooth surface of water or ice, which takes on dark colours. Such a high contrast in tone and texture makes it possible to mark the boundaries of an ice jam. 

In the following days, the Crisis Information Centre will monitor the availability and quality of satellite images for the area of interest and provide updated situational maps.