25 
Hydrological response of the sea level 
Until about noon on 2 January, the effect of the slightly onshore westerly gale is reflected in a 
moderate increase of sea levels along the western and central coasts. In the early afternoon, 
levels begin to decrease, accelerated by the southeasterly gale in the field of the depression 
approaching from Scotland and the North Sea. Minimum values were reached early on 3 
January (Wismar 478 cm, and Warnemunde 488 cm at 02 UTC, Sassnitz about 520 cm 
between 02 and 03 UTC, Swinoujscie 484 cm, and Kotobrzeg 503 cm between 04 and 05 
UTC). 
The sea level rise that followed was rapid and began as soon as the winds had veered to 
westerly directions following the passage of the warm front: between 01 - 02 UTC at the 
western gauges and 04 - 05 UTC in the central part of the coast. Sea levels at the western 
coast continued to rise until 09-10 UTC when, before the passage of one of the secondary 
centres, winds backed sharply for a short period of time and pushed the surface waters in 
offshore direction. Sea levels fell to about 500 cm at 14 UTC in Wismar. However, at the 
same time around midday, levels continued to rise in the central section of the coast and 
farther east, ceasing only after 13 UTC when the small secondary low reached this area and 
caused the wind to back offshore. This resulted in a sharp, though insignificant, drop of sea 
levels in that area: to 552 cm in Swinoujscie and 564 cm in Kotobrzeg between 17 and 19 
UTC. 
These minor sea level oscillations of short duration developed into the main phase of the 
surge when the gusty NE to NW storm hit the coast directly after the occluded front had 
crossed the shore line in southeasterly direction. In the central coastal area, the rise of sea 
levels was smaller and of shorter duration: the culmination began at about 00 UTC on 4 
January, with maxima of 616 cm in Kotobrzeg and 628 cm in Swinoujscie. When the