51 
shortly after 00 UTC on 3 January. Culmination was reached at 615 cm in Sassnitz, 620 cm 
in Swinoujscie, and 616 cm in Kotobrzeg. The maximum rate of increase, reached shortly 
before culmination, was 11 cm/h. 
Fig. 6.13.2. Sea level changes during the storm surge of January 1995 
The sea levels recorded by gauges in the western part of the coast remained at 580-600 cm, 
with minor oscillations, until about 05 UTC on 3 January, when somewhat higher culmination 
values were recorded: 642 cm in Wismar, and 629 cm in Warnemünde. Immediately after the 
culmination (05-06 UTC), sea levels fell continuously, though at a comparatively fast rate, to 
levels around 520 cm. 
In the western part of the coast the warning levels persisted for about 32-34 hours, in the 
central part only about 26-29 hours. 
In relation to the reference level indicator (541 cm on 1 January), the surge lasted from 37 
hours in Wismar to 68 hours in Kotobrzeg. 
6.14 April 1995 
Meteorological situation 
From the beginning of the month, the Baltic Sea was under the influence of vivid cyclonic 
activity. On 7 April, at about 00 UTC, a low-pressure centre of 997 hPa appeared north of the 
Shetland Islands and began tracking southeast, deepening rapidly. Within half a day, the 
centre extended from the Norwegian Sea to southern Scandinavia, and at about 15 UTC on 
7 April, with an atmospheric pressure of 982 hPa, it entered the Baltic Sea near the island of 
Öland. Here it slowed down considerably and, meandering very slowly while its pressure 
continued to fall, reached the Lithuanian coast at about 03 UTC on 8 April (Fig. 6.14.1.). 
Meanwhile, in the rear of the low over the Norwegian and North Seas, an anticyclone 
approached from the British Isles. The pressure gradient between the two centres steepened 
dangerously around noon on 7 April, especially over the central region of the Baltic Sea.