The North Sea and the Elbe are tidal waters, which means that the water level varies between low and high tide. The average tidal range, i.e. the average difference between the water levels, is 3.66 meters.

The water level rises with the tide from low to high tide in six hours. In the following six hours, the water level falls again with the low tide to low tide.

The rising and falling of the water causes the tidal current, which in Hamburg is around 2.5 knots.

The tidal calendar shows the times at which the high and low tides occur in the port of Hamburg at the St. Pauli landing stages.

Reference level for heights

• Chart datum (CD) is based on the lowest astronomical tide (LAT)

Time zone

• Legal time (summer: CEST / winter: CET)

Source: Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie

Level zero point (PNP):

Elevation of the zero point of the staff gauge in relation to an officially defined elevation system.
In contrast to the water level at the gauge, the gauge zero point of a gauge is absolute and is specified in meters above sea level (NHN) in relation to the official DHHN92 elevation system. The value of the gauge zero point is determined by the operator of the gauge and is usually below the lowest water level measured over a long period of time.
The staff gauge is installed in such a way that its zero mark corresponds to the level zero point.

An elevation system is a geodetically measured system of defined measuring points. Elevation systems vary from country to country.
In the 19th century, sea levels were established in many places as reference heights, at which a mean water level was continuously measured to the nearest centimetre over decades.

The water level is the vertical distance of a point of the water level above the zero point (PNP) of the water gauge and is usually given in centimetres. The water level at the gauge therefore says nothing about the local water depth or about the height reference to the surrounding terrain. The height of the water level above sea level is only obtained by adding the water level at the gauge to the corresponding value of the water level datum.

Quelle: pegelonline.wsv.de

The Elbe

The Elbe extends for 1,091 kilometres from its source in the Giant Mountains in the Czech Republic to where it meets the North Sea. Of this, around 870 kilometres are navigable. The river falls into two sections – the Lower Elbe for the stretch of around 145 kilometres from the estuary to the Port of Hamburg, and the Upper Elbe for the upriver section further inland.

Ebb and Flood

The North Sea and the Elbe are tidal waters. In other words, the water level varies between low and high tide. Tidal range, or the average difference between water levels, amounts to a mean 3.66 metres. Water level rises with the flood tide for six hours from low to high water. In the next six hours the water level falls with the ebb to low water again. The rise and fall of the water creates a tidal current that in Hamburg runs at about 2.5 knots.

Storm surge

Strong north-westerly winds can cause a torrent that causes the water to overflow. This affects, for example, the Fischmakrt and the Speicherstadt.

KATWARN: Official warning for the mobile phone

Information from the authorities of the city of Hamburg

Information from the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (only in german)

Port map with areas at risk (Hamburg Port Authority) (only in german)

Information storm surge (Hamburg Port Authority) (only in german)

Information from HHLA HHLA