Selected extreme weather events on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea in the period 2001-2014

The article examines the spatial and temporal variability in selected extreme meteorological phenomena on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea. Data from the 2001-2014 period related to a few meteorological and oceanographic elements were used to calculate indices of extreme weather events. The amount of intensive and widespread precipitation events in the 21^st century corresponds well with the long-term means and is stable over a long period. The number of 50-60 frost days recorded per year has been systematically decreasing for several decades. Only a few deep cyclones occur per year and year-to-year variations of their number and magnitude corresponds to the overall long-term insignificant changes in the cyclone activity in the North Atlantic and the European region. The mean annual number of days with strong winds reaches nearly 8 cases per year. About 6 storm surges per year are recorded and this value has been slowly increasing in the long-term perspective. The rare occurrence of sea ice in 2001-2014 is a continuation of the reduction in the phenomenon observed in the 20^th century. The passage of deep cyclones resulting in strong winds, storm surges and waves constitutes the most dangerous hazard to the coast.