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WEATHER

Denmark experiences wettest February in 150 years (and it’s not over yet)

On average, more than 109 millimetres of rain has now fallen in Denmark this month.

Denmark experiences wettest February in 150 years (and it's not over yet)
Photo: Claus Fisker/Ritzau Scanpix

Recent weeks have seen rain so persistent that this month can now be called the wettest February ever measured in Denmark.

Although February 2020 has a leap day, the record has already been beaten with several days left in the month, Politiken reports.

February 2002 was the previous record holder for the month with the highest rainfall. Records began in 1874.

By Friday, 106.3 millimetres of rain had fallen, and Saturday’s national average of 10.5 millimetres brought February’s total average rainfall for the country to 109 millimetres.

“This is not something that happens every year. Fortunately,” DMI meteorologist Klaus Larsen told Politiken.

With the record broken with a whole week still left in the month, the final number could be far beyond the 2002 level.

That is in fact a likelihood, with more rain forecast in the coming days. DMI expects wet weather on Monday and Tuesday and again from Friday to Saturday.

“If we are unlucky, 20 to 25 millimetres more could fall on average, so we’ll end up a lot higher,” Larsen said to Politiken.

“I don't think I've heard anyone say they're happy about all this water. It's getting a bit too much. Many wish it had been snow instead,” the meteorologist added.

Central and South Jutland are the regions of the country to have received the most precipitation, DMI climatologist Mikael Scharling told the newspaper on Friday.

Billund was the country’s wettest location with 132.9 millimetres of rain.

“This is a huge amount for what is normally a relatively dry month and also a period when there is almost no evaporation,” Scharling added.

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WEATHER

How much will it snow in Denmark this weekend?

Winter weather arrived in spectacular fashion to coincide with the beginning of December this week. The weekend could bring more snow to parts of the country but probably less disruption than recent days.

Parts of Denmark have seen heavy snow in early December.
Parts of Denmark have seen heavy snow in early December. Photo: Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix

Recent snowstorms disrupted North Jutland in particular and Denmark in general, and more cold weather can be expected this weekend albeit severe, according to forecasts.

“We won’t see the Ragnarok-like weather we’ve seen in some places recently again this weekend, but it’s now winter weather and it has also snowed in several places overnight,” said meteorologist Frank Nielsen of the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).

READ ALSO: IN PICTURES: Early December blizzards disrupt Denmark

Cold weather on Friday and a low front across the North Sea will bring clouds and precipitation across Denmark from the west, Nielsen said.

That will materialise as cold rain or sleet in many areas but probably snow in North Jutland, he said.

“There could be between five and ten centimetres of snow north of the Limfjord,” the meteorologist said, referring to the waterway that cuts across the northern part of Jutland, including main regional city Aalborg.

“In the southern part of the country, an equivalent five to ten centimetres of rain could fall,” he added.

Friday’s temperature will be between freezing point and five degrees Celsius, with the north of the country falling in to the lower end of that range and the south the warmer end.

Mist and fog is forecast this evening, caused by various weather fronts moving over Denmark.

That could still be felt on Saturday morning, though it is likely to be a little warmer at 2-6 degrees Celsius. Mild winds could make that fell chiller, but snow is unlikely.

Sunday will see the temperature drop again, to 0-4 degrees Celsisu. Snow is possible, particularly on eastern coasts.

Strong winds in the east of the country and along the coasts will result in a “rather cold 24 hours,” Nielsen said.

Nighttime temperatures are expected to drop below zero throughout the weekend. Motorists are therefore warned to be alert to icy road surfaces.

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