Flood risk on the Baltic Sea: Current levels at a glance!

Flood risk on the Baltic Sea: Current levels at a glance!

On July 15, 2025, the Baltic Sea coast will be properly due to the levels, because the water levels sometimes show dramatic developments. The measuring stations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, including Wismar, Warnemünde, Stralsund and Sassnitz, provide exciting data that provide an insight into the current water situation. As the Ostsee-Zeitung reported, the measured values are between stable and worrying heights depending on the ward.

In Wismar, the level shows a height of 620 cm, which corresponds to 3 cm above the middle water level, while in Warnemünde the level is 612 cm, i.e. 5 cm above the medium. These values are particularly important because they show the dangers of storm floods, which are classified as such on the German Baltic Sea coast when the water level is at least 1 meter above the middle water level.

Details on levels and storm surge

The regulations for storm surge classes help to better analyze the situations. The website level portal MV gives more detailed insights: A storm flood is already classified when an increase of 1.00 to 1.25 m above the middle water level. In the meantime, heavy storm surges were registered last year that caused damage of around 56 million euros.

• Current levels:
• Zingst: 539 cm (+32 cm to the medium)
• Bodstedt: 543 cm (+33 cm to the medium)
• Stralsund: 241 cm (-6 cm to the medium)
• ribnitz: 547 cm (+45 cm to the medium)

These values clearly show that the water levels fluctuate strongly, which underlines the susceptibility of this region for extreme weather events. Sturm floods in particular are a great danger that are reinforced by high waves and strong winds. Studies of the Environmental Office clarify that the highest water levels are particularly dangerous on the Baltic Sea.

The financial consequences of the storm surge

The past storm surges have left a frightening trace of damage. The city of Sassnitz reported a financial requirement of around 42 million euros to restore the infrastructure. Due to the severe storm surge, which last occurred in October 2024, around 6 million euros are also necessary for the restoration of beaches and dunes. Artificial flushing are seen as a necessary measure to secure the natural coastline.

Due to the continuously rising sea level due to climate change, it will be increasingly challenging to master future flood events. The combination of a heavy storm and high water level could have even more devastating effects in the future than we have experienced so far.

For residents and holidaymakers on the Baltic Sea coast, it remains important to find out about current developments and warnings from the flood centers in order to be able to react to the rapidly changing conditions.