Baltic Sea water level dropped 67cm below long-term average in February 2026, marking the lowest reading since systematic observations began 138 years ago.
Record Low Water Levels
The Institute of Oceanography PAS reported an unprecedented drop in Baltic Sea water levels. In early February 2026, the average sea level was nearly 67 centimeters below the long-term norm, representing a shortage of approximately 275 cubic kilometers of water in the entire basin.
Oceanographers reassure that the water hasn’t disappeared but was pushed out of the Baltic Sea through the Danish Straits.
Weather-Related Causes
A persistent high-pressure zone over the region and strong easterly winds since early January have been the key factors. These winds pushed water toward the North Sea in a phenomenon known as “wind set-down,” which temporarily lowers water levels without reducing the global water volume.
Experts emphasize that reduced rainfall or river inflow are not responsible for the current state; rather, wind and pressure systems determine short-term water level fluctuations in the Baltic.
Impact on Shipping and Ports
The record low water levels present significant challenges for maritime operations. Shallower approach channels to ports have led to restrictions on vessel draft and require more careful operational planning.
Low water levels have been observed in Polish ports and river mouths, including the Vistula Lagoon, with some seabed areas typically underwater now exposed.
Possible Ecological Benefits
Paradoxically, the current situation may benefit the Baltic ecosystem. The sea, one of the world’s largest brackish water bodies, often suffers from oxygen deficiency in its deeper parts, creating hypoxia zones that limit benthic organism life.
Scientists suggest that if weather patterns change and allow an influx of cold, salty, well-oxygenated water from the North Sea, conditions in the Baltic’s deep basins could improve.
