Flood warning! Current water levels on the Baltic Sea at a glance

Flood warning! Current water levels on the Baltic Sea at a glance

Today, September 9, 2025, a lot has happened on the Baltic Sea in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The focus is particularly on the water levels in the towns of Wismar, Warnemünde, Althagen, Barth, Stralsund, Sassnitz and Greifswald. Baltic Sea newspaper informs that the water levels are not only forecast, but also recorded precisely by the measuring stations in the coastal towns mentioned. However, the everyday challenge is to understand the terms “mean low water” (MNW) and “mean high water” (MHW). For example, the average low for Warnemünde is 407 cm and the maximum is 617 cm over a period of ten years.

A look at the past reveals that the highest flood level in Warnemünde was 770 cm, measured on November 13, 1872. In contrast, the lowest water level, 332 cm, recorded on October 18, 1967, shows how much the levels can fluctuate. These days, the different storm surge classes are establishing themselves, which vary between 1.00 and over 2.00 m above the mean water level. In the event of flooding, comprehensive warnings from various institutions, such as flood control centers, police or fire departments, are also used. The distribution channels are diverse, from radio to social media.

The economic consequences of floods

The last severe storm surge in October not only worried many but also caused significant economic damage. Overall, damages of around 56 million euros were found. The city of Sassnitz was particularly affected, reporting a financial need of around 42 million euros to restore the infrastructure. Six million euros are needed for artificial nourishment on beaches and dunes in order to restore balance and protect the coastline.

But it's not just the damage to buildings that is an issue; the potential dangers to the population are also in focus. Flood hazard maps show how serious the risk of flooding is in the affected areas and what water depths can be expected. New in this round are the notification flood areas, which have been implemented as a new data basis in the online topic portal about flood risk management. The Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Consumer Protection has published this data in the Official Gazette M-V and offers a variety of information on this, including clear maps in PDF format LUNG M-V.

The influence of climate change

The storm surge debate is also linked to climate change, which is causing sea levels to rise. This development suggests that future storm surges may be higher and cause more damage, although their frequency will not necessarily increase. Like that Federal Environment Agency explained, storm surges are a major natural hazard in coastal areas, which are particularly critical as they are caused by strong winds and hurricanes that push water masses against the coast.

The combination of historical flood levels and future forecasts shows how dynamic this topic is. Regional backgrounds characterized by windy storms and geological conditions indicate that well-prepared infrastructure and effective crisis management are essential for coastal residents in order to be able to face nature with sufficient resilience.