49 
The onset of the vehement N - NE storm that followed caused rapidly rising water levels, 
beginning in the central part of the coast: in about half a day the level rose by 1.2 m in 
Kotobrzeg, and 1.9 m in Wismar. The highest rates of increase, which were recorded in 
Wismar and Warnemünde, reached 35-37 cm/h. In the other areas of the coast, rates of 21- 
22 cm/h were recorded. The mean sea level was exceeded by 1.2-1.6 m during this surge. 
Culmination in the central part of the coast was observed between 12 and 15 UTC, with 
values of 630 cm in Kotobrzeg, 641 cm in Swinoujscie, and 621 cm in Sassnitz; maxima in 
the western part were reached between 17 and 19 UTC, reaching 631 cm in Warnemünde 
and 656 cm in Wismar. Levels above 560 cm persisted for about 20-27 hours, after which the 
warning levels were maintained until 24 February. Based on the reference level indicator 
(520 cm on 21 February), this surge lasted from 29 hours in Wismar to 68 hours in 
Kotobrzeg. 
The last major fluctuation in this series, which affected only the western part of the coast, 
began in the night of 22 February. Under the influence of NE onshore winds reaching gale 
force over the Kattegat and western Baltic Sea, the sea level began to rise around noon on 
22 February and continued to rise until the early hours of 23 February. In Wismar, the 
maximum sea level was slightly above 585 cm, and in Warnemünde it was 565 cm, both at 
00-01 UTC on 23 February. Then levels began to fall slowly. 
Fig. 6.12.2. Sea level changes during the storm surge of February 1993