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WEATHER

‘Not a summer at all’: What foreigners think of Denmark’s rainy July

With summer 2024 proving to be a rainy affair so far, we asked our readers in Denmark whether they’ve had enough of the drab weather.

'Not a summer at all': What foreigners think of Denmark’s rainy July
Danish football fans get a summer soaking. Has the weather put a dampener on your summer? Photo: Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix

This year has already included a record amount of rainfall in April, while both June and July have seen more rain than usual – as, for example, guests at the Roskilde Festival can attest.

Some parts of the country have meanwhile exceeded the expected rainfall for a year, within the first seven months.

We asked our readers in Denmark if the unusually wet summer is bothering them. Several got in touch to say the weather offerings have been less than ideal. Thank you to all who took the time to get back to us.

“It’s very concerning. I am an international expat who studied and works here,” one reader from southern Germany wrote.

“Right now I can’t imagine living for the long term here. The weather makes you depressed,” he said.

An American reader in Copenhagen said it was “time to move to Spain” in response to our survey.

“I am sick and tired of the rain. It’s not summer weather and is not uplifting and enjoyable. And yes, it definitely impacts the collective mood,” she said.

A reader from Croatia, who presumably is used to more consistent summer weather, said it was “more than annoying not to have at least 10 days period without a drop [of rain].”

“Of course it spoils many plans. Again we will have six months of grey and wet,” she said, referring to the upcoming autumn and winter.

“Summer here wasn’t a summer at all,” she said.

The persistent rain can affect people’s summer plans and good moods, said Elizabeth, a Dane living in California.

“I was in Denmark for two weeks – it rained EVERY DAY! The Danes (I think) love to get outside in the summertime, and the rain really puts a strain on enjoying time outside,” she said.

Sentiments of disappointment were also expressed by another American reader, based in Copenhagen.

“Was looking forward to a temperate summer with some more warm days and sunshine,” she said.

“Although the grey and rainy days have made the sunny days that much more enjoyable, it has disrupted visits from family and my plans to stay in Denmark to enjoy summer,” she explained.

The responses we received were far from unanimous, however. Plenty said they welcomed the rain or that it had positively affected their summer.

“I actually enjoy the weather. It’s perfect 20C most of the time, there are lots of sunny days as well and the rain keeps my garden fresh and happy,” said a reader from Poland.

“I prefer it much more over summers in Berlin or Warsaw, where it is 30C or more at all times,” she added.

People from hot countries also said they appreciated the Danish summer.

“We are from Australia so a mild summer was very welcome,” said Lauren from Sydney.

Scott, who lives in Hvidovre, wrote that the rain “has provided the best lawn and garden during July I’ve seen in 25 years of being here. I’m cutting grass every two days!”

“You can’t have it both ways I guess,” he said.

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WEATHER

Storm surges cost Denmark half a billion kroner

Storm surges caused by extreme weather in Denmark in late 2023 have so far cost half a billion kroner in compensation, authorities said on Tuesday.

Storm surges cost Denmark half a billion kroner

The Danish Natural Hazards Council (Naturskaderådet) stated on Tuesday that some 509 million kroner in compensation has so far been paid out since last autumn’s storm surges, which caused major damage along east-facing coasts.

The agency expects the costs from damage caused by the flooding to eventually exceed a billion kroner, head of department Susanne Aamann told newswire Ritzau.

“It’s not certain that will play out. But that’s our expectation now,” she said.

No weather event has cost authorities as much in compensation since 2013’s Storm Bodil, which ran up costs of just under a billion kroner. Storm Bodil is likely to be exceeded by the 2023 storm surges according to Tuesday’s projection.

READ ALSO: What is a storm surge and why did Denmark experience a ‘once a century event’?

One of the remits of the Danish National Hazards Council is to determine whether a weather event can be considered storm-related flooding, also known as a storm surge. 

Homeowners can contact the council to ask whether damage to their houses can be covered by the council’s fund for storm surges.

READ ALSO: What can homeowners in Denmark do to protect houses from high water damage?

The council declared storm surges across large parts of Denmark after extreme weather in October 2023. It also declared storm surges following Storm Pia, which hit the country during the Christmas holidays.

A storm surge is flooding that results from abnormally high sea levels which do not normally occur more than once every two decades.

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