Storm floods in the Baltic Sea: Current levels on February 23, 2025!

On February 23, 2025, increased water levels were registered on the Baltic Sea and in adjacent waters. The storm surge report of the Federal Office for Sea shipping and hydrography shows that a total of five storm surges performed on the Baltic Sea between July 2022 and June 2023. In the 2021/2022 season there were even seven storm surges. During the current season 2022/2023 there were only two low water events after four were registered in the previous season.

The storm flood classes on the German Baltic Sea coast are defined as follows: a storm surge is between 1.00 to 1.25 meters above the middle water level, a medium flood between 1.25 to 1.50 meters, a heavy storm surge between 1.50 to 2.00 meters and a very heavy storm surge above 2.00 meters. The water levels for Kiel Bay, Eckernförde, Rendsburg and Ostholstein are currently being checked, the water levels are averaged over a certain period of time.

levels and warning system

The middle water level (MW) in Kiel-Holtenau is currently 504 cm (measured in the period from November 1, 2010 to October 31, 2020). The average low water (MNW) in Kiel-Holtenau is 392 cm and the medium flood (MHW) is 626 cm. The highest water level of the Baltic Sea in Kiel-Holtenau was recorded on November 13, 1872 with 797 cm, while the lowest water level on October 04, 1860 was 271 cm

In Germany, flood warnings are regulated by the civil protection and disaster relief law (ZSKG). These warnings are distributed by flood centers in each federal state via various channels such as radio, television, speaker cars, sirens and digital platforms. It is advised to follow some rules of conduct in storm surges, to switch off electricity and gas, to bring important personal objects to higher floors and to create food and drinking water supplies.

In addition, 556 cm on the North Sea was measured on February 23, 2025, at 10:33 p.m., which is 37 cm below the middle water. At 11:32 p.m., the water levels in the Krückau, Stör and Elbe were 616 cm each, with deviations to the astronomical tidal values. These values ​​illustrate the dynamic nature of the water levels in the region. Further level measurements show that the Baltic Sea reached 490 cm at 11:30 p.m., which is 21 cm below the middle water.