Current water levels: Baltic Sea floods threaten coastal towns!

Current water levels: Baltic Sea floods threaten coastal towns!

On July 13, 2025, it seems as if the Baltic Sea can sometimes give residents a pleasant surprise, but sometimes also worries. On this day, the water levels from various measuring stations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania provide a comprehensive overview of the water conditions and the associated challenges. In the last few days, the Baltic Sea has increasingly struggled with water levels, reports Ostsee-Zeitung.

The situation in Wismar, Warnemünde, Althagen, Barth, Stralsund, Sassnitz and Greifswald has kept the authorities on their toes. When it comes to water levels, the values ​​vary widely. For example, the measuring station in Zingst shows a water level of 548 cm, while Bodstedt is only slightly higher at 550 cm. Ralswiek is also at a similar height at 542 cm. An overview of the current water levels also shows that the measuring station in Güstrow shows the water at 70 cm, which means an increase of 16 cm to the mean water, while Anklam has a negative value of -30.05 m³/s.

Flood and storm surge classes

As summer progresses, flood events are not only monitored by water levels, but also classified by storm surge classes. According to the guidelines, storm surges are divided into different classes: The lightest storm surge begins at 1.00 m above the mean water level. Particularly noteworthy is the last severe storm surge in October, which caused 56 million euros in damage, with the city of Sassnitz reporting a financial need of around 42 million euros for the restoration of the infrastructure.

Flood warning system and responses

In order to protect the population in such extreme cases, warning systems are essential. Warnings are usually issued by flood control centers, which receive support from the federal, state, district, police and fire departments. The warning channels are diverse: They range from radio and television to loudspeaker trucks or sirens to warning apps and social media. These systems are particularly important for informing the population in a timely manner and alerting them to possible flood risks.

The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent. According to the Federal Environment Agency, it should be noted that flood events often occur irregularly and do not only affect a specific river. The number of flood days varies from year to year, and individual flood events cannot be directly attributed to climate change. However, there is a possibility that climate change will increase the potential for heavy rainfall.

Monitoring water levels remains an important issue for citizens living near the coast. The variety of water levels and the associated measures are central points in the discussion about dealing with floods and storm surges in Germany.