Baltic Sea under pressure: Flood risk in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is growing!

Baltic Sea under pressure: Flood risk in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is growing!

On July 3, 2025, the water levels on the Baltic Sea in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania show worrying values. The last measurements from various stations such as Wismar, Warnemünde, Althagen, Barth, Stralsund, Sassnitz and Greifswald, document the critical situation, which is reinforced by a combination of flood events and the change in the climate. According to Ostsee-Zeitung, the warnings according to the defined Storm flood classes urgently required. In Warnemünde, a medium low water of 407 cm and a medium flood of 617 cm has been determined in recent years, while serious storm surges have already caused peaks of over 2 meters above the normal water level.

In addition, flood damage on the German Baltic Sea coast is by no means a rare phenomenon: The last severe storm surge in October 2024 had a significant impact on the local infrastructure with an estimated 56 million euros. The city of Sassnitz alone reported a financial requirement of around 42 million euros for urgent recovery measures.

infrastructure and flood protection

The flood risk management is becoming increasingly important due to the present situation. With the help of flood hazard cards, authorities and the public receive insight into the potential risk of affected zones. According to the government side [Lung M-V] (https://www.lung.mv-regierung.de/fachinformations/wasser/hochwasser-disika-RisikaMeMELUTUIR/Hochwassergwasser-und- and- Hochwasser-Risikarte/), the extent of flooding and water depths is precisely recorded. These cards are crucial to alleviate negative consequences for economic activities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The introduction of the news flood areas helps to better mark endangered regions and provide relevant information about flood -prone areas. A next review of these cards is up to December 22, 2025, and then new data should be published every six years.

legal requirements and risks

The flood generally development is not just a local problem; It is symptomatic of a global trend. According to Statista, floods make up the most common natural disasters worldwide, and global climate change harbors additional risks. In Germany, almost 7.6 percent of all addresses are potentially affected by floods, which endangers around 400,000 inhabitants: in the inside, especially along the Rhine and its tributaries.

The loss of natural flood areas by building, the straightening of rivers and the increasing sealing of soils have further exacerbated the flood risk. A rethink in dealing with natural spaces and a stronger consideration in political planning are urgently necessary to minimize future damage and to ensure a safe future.