Storm Elli floods northern Germany’s Baltic coast with record water surges

Overnight chaos as the Baltic Sea swells, submerging streets and testing flood defenses. Why this storm caught even prepared regions off guard.

, and ASMedia

2026 January 10 . 11:22 AM

1 min read

In this image we can see some ships in a large water body. We can also see some buildings, a group... — In this image we can see some ships in a large water body. We can also see some buildings, a group of trees, the ice hills and the sky which looks cloudy.

Sea levels on the Baltic Sea return to normal after storm - Storm Elli floods northern Germany’s Baltic coast with record water surges

Storm 'Elli' has pushed water levels sharply higher along northern Germany’s Baltic coast. The surge brought some of the highest readings in years, particularly in Schleswig-Holstein, where coastal towns saw flooding in low-lying areas.

The storm hit overnight, driving the Baltic Sea against the shoreline. In Schleswig-Holstein, the worst-affected spots included Flensburg, where water rose 1.33 meters above normal. Nearby, the Schlei inlet and Füsing recorded peaks of 1.37 meters, while Kiel reached 1.16 meters and Lübeck 1.15 meters. By midmorning, levels had begun to drop.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the surge was less severe but still noticeable. Wismar saw a rise of 97 centimeters above normal, with Warnemünde at 89 centimeters. Though protective measures were in place, no damage was reported in either state. The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) confirmed the surge did not meet the criteria for a full storm tide in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Officials now expect water levels to return to normal within hours.

The storm surge has started to ease, with no major incidents reported so far. Coastal regions will continue monitoring as water levels fall back to usual ranges. Authorities have not issued further warnings for the affected areas.