Suche
Mein Konto
Flood alarm on the Baltic Sea: Current water levels are shocking!
On November 16th, 2025, the current water levels of the Baltic Sea in Greifswald and surrounding cities will be analyzed due to recent storm surges.
Flood alarm on the Baltic Sea: Current water levels are shocking!
Today, November 16th, 2025, people in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are looking spellbound at the water levels in the Baltic Sea. As the Baltic Sea newspaper reported, the current water levels are recorded and evaluated at various measuring stations such as Wismar, Warnemünde, Althagen, Barth, Stralsund, Sassnitz and Greifswald. These regular measurements are essential because they not only provide information about the current condition, but can also provide valuable information about possible flood risks.
In order to better understand the water levels, the terms “average low water” (MNW) and “average high water” (MHW) are explained: In Warnemünde, the average low water is 407 cm, while the high water has an average of 617 cm. The highest flood level of 770 cm, which was measured on November 13, 1872, remains record-breaking.
Storm surges in detail
Storm surges pose a significant risk, especially on the German Baltic Sea coast. The categories are clearly defined: a storm surge is between 1.00 and 1.25 m above the mean water level, while extreme storm surges exceed 2.00 m. What is worrying is that the last severe storm surge in October has already caused damage of around 56 million euros. The city of Sassnitz alone needs 42 million euros to restore the infrastructure, supplemented by around 6 million euros to replenish lost sand on beaches and dunes.
The necessary flood warnings are issued by flood control centers and in various channels such as radio, television or social media. This means that citizens are best informed and can react in a timely manner.
A look at the past and future
The hydrological situation is not just a local problem. Like that Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency describes, a monthly report is created that documents the water levels and temperatures. A comparison of current data with long-term averages is essential in order to identify developments and tendencies.
The global climate crisis also has its fingers in the game here. Floods are the most common natural disasters worldwide Statista. Since 2000, they have caused nearly 37 percent of all natural disasters. Increasing heavy rainfall events and a warmer atmosphere that stores more water are making flood events more frequent and more intense. In Germany, around 7.6 percent of all addresses are exposed to a statistical risk of flooding, with the development of river floodplains also increasing the risk of flooding.
The challenges are therefore great, and it is clear: in order to minimize the flood risk, a consistent expansion of flood protection and greater consideration of natural retention areas are required. This is the only way to protect the population on the coast from the coming flood risks.