It has been blowing heavily from the east on the German Baltic Sea coast for hours. As a result, a lot of water is currently being shoveled from the eastern to the western part of the Baltic Sea. There is a risk of the infamous "bathtub effect" that we recently reported in YACHT 25/2020.
The BSH warns of a storm surge, and the fluctuation in the water level is already noticeable. In Flensburg, for example, the level has currently risen by almost a meter above the mean water level, and according to various model calculations, another 10 to 15 centimeters will probably be added by this afternoon.
BSH Baltic Sea map with coastal regions (red) that are currently threatened by a storm surge
What doesn't sound like much at first, can sometimes be fatal. For example, when harbor jetties are flooded, the boats float up and mooring lines slip from the box posts. Yacht insurer Pantaenius already warned its customers on Friday to watch out for boats put ashore near the port. The notice says owners should
"Take appropriate precautionary measures whenever possible. This includes checking the line routing on piers and dolphins. If you are unable to do this personally, it is advisable to call your harbor master or neighboring berth. In individual cases, it may also be advisable to move the ship or to call Boats and yachts jacked up in flood areas should also be appropriately secured against floating or, if necessary, relocated to higher areas."
Here is the current water level forecast from the BSH for the Baltic Sea:
© BSH
