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6.17 January 2000 
Meteorological situation 
On 15 - 17 January 2000, the three days preceding the storm surge, northwesterly air flow 
prevailed over the North and Baltic Seas. This flow was generated by a wide, quasi 
stationary high-pressure system over the northeastern North Atlantic. Atmospheric pressure 
in the centre of this high, which was located off Ireland, exceeded 1045 hPa. Along the 
eastern edge of the anticyclone, successive low-pressure troughs from the Arctic waters 
northeast of Scandinavia tracked S - SE across the Baltic Sea towards the Russian plains. 
On 17 January, a zone of steepening pressure gradient formed over the western basins of 
the Baltic Sea and soon spread eastwards. The wind veered N - NE and increased to gale 
force 7 - 8 Bft and locally 9 Bft. This development continued on 18 January until, in the early 
hours of 19 January (Fig. 6.17.1.) the wind abated slightly, but not below 4 - 6 Bft. 
On 20 January, as successive low pressure troughs travelled southeast across Scandinavia 
and the Baltic Sea towards Bielorussia, the wind backed NW - W and increased again to 6 - 
7 Bft towards evening, 
The cold front connected with this trough first crossed the central and eastern parts of the 
coast, i.e. Kotobrzeg and Swinoujscie, shortly before midnight in the night of 21 January and, 
some hours later, between 03 and 05 UTC on 21 January - the regions of Warnemunde and 
Wismar. After the passage of the cold front the wind veered N - NE, increased to 7-9 Bft and 
became gusty again due to below-zero temperatures of the intruding Arctic air (Fig. 6.17.2.). 
The storm lasted until the afternoon of 21 January, when the gradient weakened and the 
wind decreased to 5-6 Bft locally, first beginning in the western part of the coast. 
Soon after midnight the wind backed W - SW and decreased gradually. 
Fig. 6.17.1. Pressure pattern over Europe and wind field over the southern Baltic Sea at 00 
UTC on 19 January 2000 - an example of the long-lasting northerly air flow over Europe 
which often causes wind set-up along the southern coast of the Baltic Sea