15 
December 
Mean daily temperatures over Szczecin Lagoon decreased sharply on 1 December and stayed 
negative for 5 days, on 2 and 3 December below -4.0 °C. The minimum temperature was 
-8.0°C in Swinoujscie, -6.3°C in Trzebiez and -6.5°C in Szczecin. The water temperature in 
Trzebiez decreased from 2.2°C on 30 November to 0.8°C on 4 December. From 5 December, 
westerly air flow prevailed over Europe, with a short disturbance on 15-16 December, when 
an anticyclone from the British Isles moved east, causing an intrusion of Arctic air over the 
Baltic Sea. Mean daily temperatures decreased (to -2.9°C in Trzebiez) in the area of 
Lagoon. Water temperature fell to 0.0°C on December. It was the lowest value reached there 
in this winter. 
January - February - March 
After this short cold break, westerly air flow prevailed over Europe until the end of the month 
and throughout January and nearly the whole month of February. The southern coasts of the 
Baltic Sea were under the influence of polar maritime or transformed polar maritime air. On 
25 February, due to faint easterly blocking, the air flow over central Europe changed to 
southerly directions which continued until about 10 March, without any changes in the 
thermal conditions. Air temperatures oscillated between 1 °C and 10°C, and negative values 
were recorded only sporadically at night. In the remaining 20 days of March, alternately 
westerly or southerly air flow dominated over the northern parts of Europe. Both types of air 
masses and the air temperatures did not change much. 
Table 2.1. Air temperatures and variations from the normal value (1961-1990) 
in Szczecin Lagoon in winter season 1988/89 
November 
December 
January 
February 
March 
mean 
max. 
min. 
mean 
max. 
min. 
mean 
max. 
min. 
mean 
max. 
min. 
mean 
max. 
min. 
Swinoujscie 
3.2 
9.7 
-6.8 
3.3 
10.0 
-6.8 
3.8 
9.8 
-2.4 
4.6 
12.7 
-1.6 
6.1 
19.9 
-0.7 
divergence 
-1.5 
2.2 
3.4 
4.7 
3.5 
Trzebiez 
2.4 
9.5 
-11.5 
3.3 
10.3 
-6.3 
3.5 
10.8 
-4.0 
4.1 
12.3 
-2.8 
5.9 
20.8 
-1.2 
divergence 
- 1.9 
2.5 
4.5 
4.5 
3.3 
Szczecin 
2.5 
10.0 
-8.3 
3.4 
10.2 
-6.5 
3.5 
10.7 
-6.8 
4.4 
13.3 
-3.6 
6.4 
21.1 
-1.0 
divergence 
-1.9 
2.6 
4.6 
4.8 
3.4 
Table 2.2. Water temperatures and variations from the normal value (1961-1990) 
in Szczecin Lagoon in winter season 1988/89 
November 
December 
January 
February 
March 
mean 
max. 
min. 
mean 
max. 
min. 
mean 
max. 
min. 
mean 
max. 
min. 
mean 
max. 
min. 
Miçdzyzdroje 
5.0 
6.9 
2.9 
2.1 
3.9 
0.9 
3.3 
4.0 
2.6 
3.2 
4.2 
2.8 
5.2 
6.3 
3.6 
divergence 
-1.4 
-0.6 
2.2 
2.2 
2.8 
Trzebiez 
3.7 
6.0 
1.4 
2.3 
5.2 
0.8 
4.0 
5.0 
2.8 
3.5 
5.4 
2.2 
6.9 
9.2 
5.2 
divergence 
-1.7 
0.2 
2.9 
2.2 
3.5 
Szczecin 
4.4 
7.2 
2.7 
3.0 
5.5 
0.9 
3.9 
5.6 
1.9 
4.1 
5.6 
2.5 
7.2 
9.7 
5.6 
divergence 
- 1.8 
0.4 
2.4 
2.3 
2.9 
2.1.2. Characteristics of the 1988/89 ice season in the area of Szczecin Lagoon 
Meteorological conditions led to only one short period of the ice formation in the sheltered 
waters during the time from December 2 to 8. Only initial stages of ice development were 
observed in the form of new coastal ice with an ice thickness up to 5 cm.