Cool season severe wind events may be related to the occurrence of mesoscale convective systems with a bow echo (i.e. arch-shaped band of radar reflectivity). This research provides an insight into the spatial and temporal distribution of bow echoes occurring in the cool season (October–March) between January 2007 and March 2019 over Poland and presents atmospheric conditions (synoptic, kinematic, and thermodynamic) associated with such events. The analysis has been performed utilizing SYNOP (surface observations), ESWD (European Severe Weather Database), radar (CMAX, CAPPI), reanalysis (ERA-5) and sounding data. During the period studied, 27 Cool Season Bow Echoes (CSBEs) were identified across Poland. The area most exposed to the occurrence of CSBEs included south-western Poland, while the north-eastern and eastern part of the country was generally free of this phenomenon. Unlike the warm season cases, CSBEs do not indicate a clear diurnal cycle. As our results have shown, a high shear/low CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) environment in combination with a triggering mechanism along the cold front (frontal cases) or along the surface trough (post-frontal cases) can be considered as supportive for CSBE. Such cases were always associated with the presence of strong air flow in the low and mid troposphere. The analysis of 500 hPa geopotential height fields revealed that troughs (often with embedded smaller-amplitude dynamic waves) moving over Central Europe were present in 26 out of 27 cases. The median value of vertical wind shear for identified cases exceeded 30 m/s for deep-layer shear (DLS), was well above 20 m/s for mid-level shear (MLS), and higher than 17 m/s for low-level shear (LLS). A recurring finding was also that post-frontal cases formed in an environment with weaker shear, but higher CAPE. •The spatiotemporal distribution of cool season bow echoes (CSBEs) in Poland.•27 CSBEs have been identified between 2007 and 2019.•CSBEs are strongly affected by the presence of fast flow from mid to upper level.•CSBEs are characterized by weak instability and strong vertical wind shear.