Flood alarm on the Baltic Sea: water levels reach record levels!

Flood alarm on the Baltic Sea: water levels reach record levels!

The coastal regions on the Baltic Sea will again be affected by storm surges on July 20, 2025. These natural events have occurred several times a year in recent years and pose a significant danger to residents. According to reports from kieler Nachrichten Online between July 2022 and June 2023, five storm surges occurred on the German Baltic Sea coast. The previous season even recorded seven storm surges. In a year with several such events, it is important to keep an eye on water levels, especially as low water events have also been documented - twice in the 2022/2023 season and four times in the 2021/2022 season.

Storm surges are divided into several classes: A simple storm surge begins at a water level of one to 1.25 meters above the mean water level. The more severe storm surges, which affect coastal areas the most, are over 1.50 meters high. This illustrates the key role that wind conditions and geographical conditions play in the formation of these floods. In particular, westerly and northerly winds in Schleswig-Holstein are crucial for the strength of the storm surges, according to the Federal Environment Agency.

Water levels in focus

According to current data, the water levels on the Baltic Sea and North Sea coast are relatively high compared to the mean water today, July 20, 2025. For example, in today's measurements on the Baltic Sea you can record a water level of 522 cm and up to 533 cm. The North Sea has something similar to offer, where the values ​​are between 626 cm and up to 660 cm. The flood warnings are coordinated by various authorities responsible for public safety, including police and fire departments, and are distributed through various channels such as radio, television and apps.

• Ostsee: 522 cm (20.07.2025, 19:15)
• Nordsee: 626 cm (20.07.2025, 19:15)
• Elbe: 410 cm (20.07.2025, 19:15)
• Eider: 590 cm (20.07.2025, 19:15)

The unpredictability of these natural forces is impressively underlined by today's measured values, which show strong fluctuations, as the Flood Information System Schleswig-Holstein explains. City residents are well advised to prepare for storm surges by following a few rules of conduct: turning off electricity and gas, securing personal belongings, and keeping emergency resources ready while stockpiling food and drinking water.

Outlook for future storm surges

As sea levels rise due to climate change, it is likely that storm surges could reach higher levels in the future and cause more damage, even if the number of floods does not necessarily increase. Historical data shows that extreme storm surges have been documented on the German coast for almost 2,000 years. The worst storm surge in the last 100 years occurred on February 16, 1962 and caused devastating damage and many deaths in Hamburg. This clearly shows how important it is to raise awareness of the danger of storm surges and to take appropriate protective measures.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the water levels will develop and whether further storm surges will hit the coastal regions in the coming weeks and months, which is why constant vigilance is required.