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Baltic Sea in focus: Current water levels and risk of storm surges in MV!
Current water levels in the Baltic Sea in Western Pomerania-Greifswald on July 17, 2025: floods, storm surges, damage and warnings.
Baltic Sea in focus: Current water levels and risk of storm surges in MV!
The region along the Baltic Sea coast will have to contend with flood levels on July 17, 2025, which will play an important role in the safety and infrastructure of local residents. Loud Baltic Sea newspaper The water levels in various cities in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are regularly monitored, with Wismar, Warnemünde and Stralsund being the main measuring stations.
To explain the water levels, it is important to know the terms “mean low water” (MNW) and “mean high water” (MHW). The MNW for Warnemünde is set at 407 cm and the MHW at 617 cm, based on a ten-year observation from 2010 to 2020. Historically, the highest flood level (HHW) in Warnemünde was measured at 770 cm on November 13, 1872, while the lowest water level was only 332 cm on October 18, 1967.
Dangerous storm surges
Storm surges are divided into different classes: A simple storm surge is 1.00 to 1.25 m above the mean water level, while a severe storm surge is 1.50 to 2.00 m. In particular, the very heavy storm surge, which reaches values of over 2.00 m, can cause devastating damage. Such extreme events most recently caused immense damage amounting to 56 million euros in October 2024, with the city of Sassnitz alone reporting a financial requirement of around 42 million euros for infrastructure restoration.
Like that Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency reported, storm surges are not just a temporary phenomenon. They are cyclical, meaning that similar weather patterns could occur again in the coming years. These weather situations are particularly dangerous when winds blow from the west, which leads to high water levels on the North Sea coast.
Long-term developments and risks
Climate change plays a role that should not be underestimated in sea level rise, which increases the risk of storm surges. Like that Federal Environment Agency explains, local man-made structures such as dikes are also causing rising water levels, potentially increasing the risk of storm surges.
The concern about flooding at the moment is not just a question of statistics and historical awareness, but directly affects life on the coast. Preparing for upcoming storm surges and understanding water levels can ensure that the population is warned in good time. These warnings come across numerous channels: from radio and television to apps and social media.
It remains to be hoped that security and coastal protection measures will become more effective in the future to minimize the impact of such natural events. But as the saying goes: we have to take the weather as it comes and look to the future with optimism.