29 
remained within the warning range until, on 4 January, they culminated around midday in the 
central parts of the coast, and between 19 and 22 UTC in the western part of the coast. 
The maximum sea levels recorded during this surge were 620 cm in Wismar, 602 cm in 
Warnemünde and Kotobrzeg, 591 cm in Sassnitz, and 583 cm in Swinoujscie. Warning levels 
(above 560 cm) persisted for 31 hours in Kotobrzeg, 22 hours in Swinoujscie, and 15 hours 
in Wismar and Warnemünde. 
Relative to the reference level indicator (523 cm on 3 January), this surge lasted from 31 
hours in Wismar to 42 hours in Kotobrzeg. 
Fig. 6.3.2. Sea level changes during the storm surge of January 1978 
6.4 January 1983 
Meteorological situation 
At the end of 1982 and beginning of 1983, stormy winds blew mainly from westerly 
directions, causing relatively high mean sea levels of the Baltic Sea. 
On 17 January 1983, at about 18 UTC, a low pressure centre of 978 hPa formed over the 
Shetland Islands, which deepened rapidly and travelled east-southeast towards southern 
Norway and Sweden. Within 24 hours, this low with a pressure of 962 hPa in its centre had 
reached the northeastern Baltic Sea, where it slowed down while the air pressure grew 
steadily over the British Isles and the North Sea. At 00 UTC on 19 January, the depression 
moved across Latvia, where it began to fill rapidly, while a high pressure system spread and 
strengthened over Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea. 
As a consequence of this atmospheric pattern, W to SW winds blew across the Baltic Sea, 
reaching gale force in the western parts of the basin on 17 January. On 18 January, a severe 
SW to W storm of 8-10 Bft raged across the Baltic Sea, which veered and reached 9-10 Bft, 
with 12 Bft in gusts (Fig. 6.4.1). During 19 January, as the low filled and moved east, the