52 
Negative Surges in the Southern Baltic Sea 
Fig. 5.15. b Variations of sea level decrease during the storm of 15-17 February 1996 
time pattern: the deepest minimum of 425 cm 
occurred at Sassnitz on 17 February, at 04 UTC. 
Both Warnemünde and Wismar recorded minima 
just below 440 cm at about 08 UTC. The minima 
in the eastern part of the coast were hardly 
noticeable as the winds veered northwest to 
northeast between 03 and 04 UTC, causing an 
immediate rise of water levels. 
Fig. 5.15. a Pressure pattern and wind field over the Baltic Sea on 16 February 1996, 00 UTC 
February 1996 
Wismar —•—Warnemünde Sassnitz —* Swinoujscie — —Kotobrzeg MSL