Danger of flooding on the Baltic Sea: Current water levels and warnings!

Danger of flooding on the Baltic Sea: Current water levels and warnings!

The Baltic Sea, a region of great importance for residents and the local economy, is once again in focus because the current water levels show an ongoing flood event. Today, July 3, 2025, the measuring stations in Wismar, Warnemünde, Althagen, Barth, Stralsund, Sassnitz and Greifswald report a worrying increase in water levels. The risk of flooding should not be underestimated.

The values ​​at the Warnemünde station indicate a mean flood (MHW) of 617 cm, while the lowest water ever measured is 332 cm. The highest flood occurred in Warnemünde on November 13, 1872 with an alarming level of 770 cm. Such historical data highlights the dangers posed by storm surges, which can occur regularly in the region.

Danger maps at a glance

In order to minimize the risk, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has developed flood hazard maps that show the potential flood risk and the water depth for various scenarios. These maps contain valuable information about the number of potentially affected residents, the negative impacts on economic activities and flood areas, which are accessible on the online flood risk management portal. According to current reports, plant areas with a high potential for pollutants must also be taken into account, as they can pose an additional risk in the event of flooding. The next review of these cards is scheduled for December 22, 2025.

The challenges are not just theoretical: last year, a severe storm surge caused damage worth around 56 million euros. The city of Sassnitz reports a financial requirement of 42 million euros to restore the necessary infrastructure, supplemented by 6 million euros required to compensate for the flood-related sand losses on beaches and dunes.

Storm surges on the Baltic Sea

Storm surges, considered a major natural hazard in coastal regions, are a constant threat. The causes are often strong winds that push the water into the harbor. Westerly winds on the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein and northern winds in Lower Saxony are particularly dangerous. Significant sea level rise due to climate change also increases the baseline risk of storm surges and their consequences, highlighting the need for effective flood risk management.

The developments at the water levels on the German Baltic Sea coast are particularly interesting. These show a cyclical course, whereby flood levels can both rise and fall. Given historical storm surges, including the devastating storm surge of February 16, 1962, it is important to take appropriate measures to minimize future damage. Impressive maximum water levels of up to 1.91 m above the average water level were measured at the gauges in Wismar, which impressively illustrates the danger of such weather conditions.

Overall, it remains to be seen that flood risk management in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and other coastal regions is of utmost importance in order to protect the population and secure the infrastructure. The easterly outlook on the weather and ongoing adjustments to rising water levels is essential to dealing with this force of nature.

For further information on the current water levels in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, we recommend taking a look at the detailed reports from Ostsee-Zeitung and the [state government M-V]. The Umweltbundesamt provides further scientific details for an overview of flood and storm surge events.