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.
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.
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.
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 Travemünde gauge is currently at 531 cm above gauge datum, about 31 cm above the mean water level. The live value is at the top of this page (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).
