Gauge live · tide-free · wind-driven
Water level and high water in Travemünde
The Baltic Sea is nearly tide-free: the tidal range in the Bay of Lübeck is only a few centimetres – there is practically no ebb-and-flow rhythm as on the North Sea.
How high is the water level right now?
Water temperature, waves and wind are live on the water-temperature page.
Is there a storm surge in Travemünde today?
Situation: calm
The situation at the Travemünde gauge is calm – the BSH forecast expects no storm-surge-relevant levels.
Why the Baltic Sea has hardly any tides
- The Baltic Sea is nearly tide-free: the tidal range in the Bay of Lübeck is only a few centimetres – there is practically no ebb-and-flow rhythm as on the North Sea.
- Here the water level is mainly driven by the wind. Strong onshore wind from the north-east to east pushes water into the bay and raises the gauge – up to a storm surge. Offshore west to south-west wind pushes the water out, and the level falls (low water).
- The gauge is therefore not measured as “ebb/flow” but as a deviation from the mean water level – so high and low water can be read at a glance.
What lies behind the missing ebb-and-flow rhythm is explained in detail on tides in the Baltic Sea.
When does it get critical?
Storm surges are rare on the Baltic but possible – usually during sustained east/north-east storms in autumn and winter. The severe Baltic storm surge of 1872 is still regarded as a once-in-a-century event; a flood mark on the Old Lighthouse recalls it. During a warning, a banner appears at the top of this website (source: NINA/DWD); the official water-level forecast comes from the BSH.
When does it count as a storm surge?
On the Baltic coast the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) classifies storm surges by the level above the German datum (NHN): from 1.00 metre above NHN a storm surge, from 1.25 metres a medium, from 1.50 metres a severe and from 2.00 metres a very severe storm surge. For the Travemünde gauge this means: the gauge datum lies 502 cm below NHN, so a storm surge here starts at 602 cm on the gauge. Unlike on the North Sea, the high water is driven not by the tide but by sustained wind – in north-easterly conditions it pushes water into the Bay of Lübeck. Official forecasts and warnings come from the BSH; the situation assessment above shows where Travemünde stands right now.
| Class | Above NHN | On the gauge (above datum) |
|---|---|---|
| Storm surge | 1,00–1,24 m | from 602 cm |
| Medium storm surge | 1,25–1,49 m | from 627 cm |
| Severe storm surge | 1,50–1,99 m | from 652 cm |
| Very severe storm surge | ab 2,00 m | from 702 cm |
Frequently asked questions about the water level
Are there tides in Travemünde?
Hardly. The Baltic Sea is nearly tide-free – the tidal range in the Bay of Lübeck is a few centimetres. Noticeable water-level changes are mainly caused by wind.
How high is the water level in Travemünde right now?
The live reading of the Travemünde gauge is at the top of this page, given as the deviation from the mean water level (about 500 cm above gauge datum) and updated several times a day. Source: Pegelonline/WSV.
Can there be high water in Travemünde?
Yes, though rarely. During sustained east or north-east storms the level can rise markedly, up to a storm surge. The severe Baltic storm surge of 1872 is regarded as a once-in-a-century event.
Why does the level rise and fall without tides?
Because the wind moves the water: onshore wind from the north-east/east pushes water into the bay (high water), offshore wind from the west/south-west pushes it out (low water).
