Baltic Sea hit by damaging storm on Poland’s coast and rare saline water influx

On July 8, 2026 a severe storm struck the Polish Baltic coast, especially the Mierzeja Wiślana peninsula. Meteorologists warned of gusts exceeding 120 km/h, sand drifts several metres high, and wave surges that buried beach cafés and forced tourists to struggle on the shoreline. Authorities evacuated children from a camp in Krynica Morska and urged the public to avoid the beach.

Earlier in the year, February measurements showed the Baltic Sea’s water level 67 cm below normal – the lowest since 1886 – after prolonged southeast winds pushed a large volume of water out through the Danish Straits. The resulting influx of more saline, oxygen‑rich North Sea water was described as a “great Atlantic inflow,” improving oxygen levels and offering a short‑term boost to the ecosystem. Scientists cautioned, however, that the benefit may not offset rising temperatures and persistent eutrophication, which continue to favor cyanobacteria blooms.

Both events highlight the Baltic’s vulnerability to extreme weather and the complex challenges of maintaining its marine health.