46 
Meanwhile, a developing anticyclone over the British Isles was spreading eastwards across 
the North Sea, Scandinavia, and the Baltic Sea (Fig. 6.11.1.). 
In the night of 16 January, the prevailing westerly winds of 6-7 Bft in the area of the Baltic 
Sea veered rapidly NW - N, increasing to 7-9 Bft first on the central coasts (around midnight 
on 16 January), and somewhat later (about 05 UTC on 17 January) also in the western parts 
of the coast. The storm lasted until 17 January around noon. As soon as the easward 
tracking depression over Bielorussia had filled and the Baltic Sea had come under the 
influence of the anticyclone, the wind backed again slowly, especially in the western parts of 
the coast, and decreased to 8-6 Bft, with a downward trend. The wind continued backing to 
offshore directions, blowing temporarily SW on 18 January, especially in the western parts of 
the coast. 
Fig. 6.11.1. Route of the stormy depression from 00 UTC on 16 January 1992 to 12 UTC on 
17 January; pressure pattern and wind field at 06 UTC on 17 January 1992 
Hydrological response of the sea level 
The impact of the onshore wind in the night from 16 to 17 January resulted in a wind set-up 
which began in the central part of the coast (shortly before midnight on 16 January) and 
spread westwards, causing the sea level in Wismar to rise from about 05 UTC on 17 
January. The highest level of 640 cm was recorded in Kotobrzeg on 17 January at 08 UTC, 
about the same time at which a peak of 616 cm was recorded in Swinoujscie. At Sassnitz, 
the maximum of 636 cm was recorded two hours later, and at Warnemünde, slightly above 
598 cm, between 11 and 12 UTC. The maximum level at Wismar was 613 cm at 12 UTC (Fig 
6.11.2). 
From about 22 UTC on 16 January, the water rose about 1 m within 12 hours (in Kotobrzeg 
only 9 hours). The maximum rate of increase, 31 cm/h, was observed in Kotobrzeg, and 30 
cm/h was recorded in Wismar. The mean rate of increase varied from 9 to 12 cm/h in the 
central part of the coast and from 11 to 14 cm/h in the western part. High water levels 
(exceeding 580 cm) persisted for 8 hours in Warnemünde, and 14 hours in Kotobrzeg, after 
which a decay was observed which was more uniform in the central parts. 
The about 30 cm higher levels in the central part of the coast during the culmination phase of 
the surge resulted not only from stronger winds with prevailing onshore directions but also 
from the somewhat higher (by about 30 cm) “starting” levels before the increase began. In 
relation to the reference level indicator (532 cm on 16 January), this surge lasted from 20 
hours in Warnemünde to 66 hours in Kotobrzeg.