Severe wind wave events are characteristic of the Gulf of Gdańsk (southern Baltic Sea). Hence, this study analyses a 44-year (1958–2001) WAM-modelled wind wave dataset for the Gulf of Gdańsk based on the NCEP reanalysis within the EU-funded HIPOCAS project. Temporal variability of wind wave parameters was assessed at five distinct locations in the Gulf to assess the spatial differences. Weak linear trends were detected in the mean, maximum, and 99th percentile of significant wave height in some of the selected areas. An increase in mean wave heights during the 1980s and 1990s, followed by a decline at the end of the century was observed, particularly in the open part of the Gulf. Variations in the mean wave period largely mirrored changes in mean significant wave height but were negligible overall. A total of 34 extreme wave events were identified across the selected points in the Gulf, concentrated in the cold season (October–March). These events were unevenly distributed throughout the analysed period, with a noticeable rise in storm frequency in the late 20th century. To characterise these storm events, the pathways of associated low-pressure systems were examined. A clear relationship emerged between the spatial distribution of large waves and the low's trajectories. Two main pathways of low-pressure systems were identified: (i) systems moving eastward from the North or Norwegian Sea, across the Baltic along a W–E axis, and (ii) a less common NW-SE track from the Norwegian Sea through Scandinavia into the Baltic. To further investigate the link between storm tracks and wave evolution during individual extreme events, two idealised low-pressure trajectories (W-E and NW-SE) were modelled with concentric isobars. Their movement demonstrated how storm track orientation shapes spatial wave distribution across the Gulf, underscoring the link between cyclone pathways and wave extremes.
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