Focus on the Baltic Sea: Current water levels and risk of storm flood in MV!

Focus on the Baltic Sea: Current water levels and risk of storm flood in MV!

Vorpommern-Greifswald, Deutschland - The region along the Baltic Sea coast has to deal with flood stalls on July 17, 2025, which play an important role in the security and infrastructure of the residents. According to Ostsee-Zeitung The water levels in various cities are regularly monitored, with Wismar, Warnemünde and Stralsund count among the main measurement stations.

To explain the water levels, it is important to know the terms "medium low water" (MNW) and "medium flood" (MHW). The MNW for Warnemünde is set at 407 cm and the MHW on 617 cm, based on a ten -year view from 2010 to 2020. Historically, the highest flood level (HHW) in Warnemünde is measured with 770 cm on November 13, 1872, while the lowest water level was only 332 cm on October 18, 1967

dangerous storm surge

The storm surges are divided into different classes: a simple storm surge is 1.00 to 1.25 m above the middle water level, while a severe storm surge of 1.50 to 2.00 m is running. Above all, the very heavy storm surge, which reaches values above 2.00 m, can cause devastating damage. Such extreme events last caused immense damage of 56 million euros in October 2024, with the city of Sassnitz alone reporting a financial requirement of around 42 million euros for infrastructure recovery.

How the Federal Office for Sea shipping and hydrography are not only a temporary phenomenon. They are subject to a cyclical course, which means that similar weather conditions could reappear again in the coming years. These weather situations are particularly dangerous when winds blow from a west direction, which leads to high water levels on the North Sea coast.

long -term developments and risks

climate change plays a role in the rise in sea level, which increases the risk of storm surges. As the Environmental Office , local structures created by humans also cause ascending water levels, so that the risk of storm flood potentially larger.

The concern for floods currently is not just a question of statistics and historical awareness, but also affects life on the coast. Preparing for upcoming storm surges and understanding of water level levels can ensure that the population is warned in good time. These warnings come from numerous channels: from radio and television to apps and social media.

It remains to be hoped that the measures for security and coastal protection will become more effective in the future in order to minimize the effects of such natural events. But as you say so beautifully: we have to take the weather, how it comes and look optimistically into the future.