Massive rain in Denmark earlier this week caused flooding, landslides, and widespread disruption across southern Denmark, marking one of the rainiest days the country has experienced since 1994.
Record-Breaking Rainfall Hits Southern Denmark
Denmark experienced dramatic and intense weather earlier this week, as torrential downpours drenched large parts of the country on Monday and Tuesday. The worst-hit areas were located in the southern regions, including South Zealand and the South Sea Islands. Towns and cities were left grappling with flooded roads, overwhelmed sewage systems, and even landslides. For many locals the last week of rain in Denmark was a start to the week they will remember.
According to the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), the rainfall brought some areas dangerously close to historical records, prompting emergency responses and road closures in multiple municipalities. With some roads closed and cleanups underway, the damage is still being counted.
Næstved Tops the Charts with Torrential Downpour
Among all locations affected, the city of Næstved in South Zealand emerged as the area with the highest recorded rainfall. Between midnight on Monday and 6:00 AM on Wednesday, Næstved received 165.6 millimeters (6.5 inches) of rain — the highest total over the multi-day storm period.
Not far behind were Ny Borre on the island of Møn with 158.6 millimeters, and Nørreby on Femø with 155.9 millimeters. All three areas experienced conditions categorized by the DMI as “extreme rainfall events” with localized flooding and disruptions to infrastructure.
Focusing on Tuesday alone, which was the single wettest day of the week, Nørreby received 135 millimeters of rain in just 24 hours. Næstved followed closely with 134.8 millimeters, while Brandelev in South Zealand saw 124.2 millimeters.
Comparisons to Historical Records
While the rainfall totals were significant, they still fell just short of Denmark’s all-time daily rainfall record. That record was set on July 9, 1931, when the town of Marstal on the island of Ærø recorded 168.9 millimeters in a single day — a benchmark that remains unbeaten.
On a national scale, the downpour on Tuesday, July 22, produced an average of 34 millimeters of rain in Denmark. This is the highest one-day national average since September 15, 1994, when a similar weather event brought an average of 35.7 millimeters of rain in Denmark over a 24-hour period.
In total, Denmark received 45.9 millimeters of rain over the two-day event this week. This pales only slightly in comparison to the 50.3 millimeters recorded during the two-day rain system in 1994.
Impact Across the Country
The effects of the rainfall were felt far and wide. Reports from across southern Denmark included widespread water damage to homes and public buildings, closed highways and rail lines, and numerous canceled train and bus services due to flooded tracks and roads. Emergency crews were dispatched to assist with water removal and to respond to sewer system overflows.
In several coastal areas, authorities issued warnings about elevated groundwater levels and the increased risk of landslides, especially in hilly regions such as Møn, where unstable soil conditions were exacerbated by the downpours. Some local authorities also issued boil-water advisories after runoff threatened to contaminate drinking water supplies.
Weather Expected to Stabilize
Meteorologists say the worst of the storm has moved on, with the low-pressure system responsible for the heavy rainfall now dissipating. While scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are still expected into Thursday, these are forecasted to be far less intense.
Looking ahead to the weekend, the DMI predicts a return to more stable summer weather. Sunshine and warmer temperatures are anticipated, offering some relief to flood-stricken regions as cleanup and repairs begin.
July Rain Already Surpasses Monthly Average
Remarkably, Tuesday’s rainfall alone accounted for one-third of all precipitation that Denmark has seen in July so far — a month that has already reached 94.3 millimeters of total rainfall. That’s roughly 43% higher than the typical July average of 65.8 millimeters.
With nearly 10 days left in the month, meteorologists are closely watching for further developments, particularly in already saturated areas. For now, however, residents can look forward to drier days ahead.
