The Swedish water level in Landsort-Norra shows the lowest values since records began in 1886, said the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research in Warnemünde. The water level is more than 67 centimeters below average. The Baltic Sea is currently lacking around 275 cubic kilometers of water. The reason is an exceptionally long-lasting easterly wind.
In recent weeks, easterly winds have pushed large amounts of water through the Belt Sea straits between Germany, Denmark and Sweden towards the North Sea. Researchers are now expecting a large influx of salt water from the North Sea into the Baltic Sea when there is a westerly wind. This would be beneficial for the Baltic Sea, it is said: firstly with regard to oxygen absorption and secondly with regard to the deep water temperatures, which have been increasing for around two decades.
This message was sent on February 7th, 2026 on the Deutschlandfunk program.
