BSH Warns Baltic Storm Surge Peaks 18 October
Published
The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has issued a storm surge warning for the Baltic Sea coast for the night to Sunday 18 October. Water levels of up to 1.39 metres above normal height zero (NHN) are possible, and in some places the sea could rise over the quay edge.
Lübeck Travemünde is expected to be hit hardest. Around 03:00 the BSH forecasts 1.21 metres there, while the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) forecasts 1.39 metres. In Schleswig and Kiel Bay the BSH expects up to 1.14 metres from Saturday evening. In Flensburg the BSH sees a peak of 1.10 metres early on Sunday. The Danish model, which uses different wind data, points to 1.24 metres, and in that case water would spill over the quay and harbour roads could be closed. Earlier forecasts had reached up to 1.64 metres.
The BSH says the forecast carries uncertainty and will be updated regularly. The cause is a high pressure area over the British Isles that drives strong wind over the central and southern Baltic Sea.
Preparations are under way. The ferry between Arnis and Sundsacker on the Schlei was suspended for all of Saturday, and the operator cannot yet say whether it will run on Sunday. Flensburg hands out free sandbags at the Exe between 12:00 and 17:00. At the Travemünde Priwall harbour boats have been lifted out of the water all day, and at a camping site near Langballigau about 60 permanent campers are removing caravans. The site manager said the operators are well prepared.
On the Baltic coast a water level above 1 metre NHN counts as a storm surge. The typical season runs from October to April. The cover photo is an archive picture of a Baltic Sea flood in October 2023 and does not show tonight's event.
More Germany news
- Mercedes-Benz Halts Investment in German Plants and Weighs Closures
- Housing Benefit Cut Dropped: 1.3 Million Households Keep Wohngeld
- Align Technology unveils new innovations for Invisalign treatment
- Large Solar Park in Merbitz Feeds Electricity into the Grid
- Nvidia shares fall sharply: How safe is pension money?
- Telekom baut Rechenzentrum für Industrie und KI aus
- Autonomous Buses to Enter Everyday Life: TUM Leads New DZM Site
- Cigarettes from the EU Abroad: Duty-Free Allowance Not Dropping for Now