Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) and TV 2 Vejret faced harsh criticism for their warnings of heavy rainfall, but the forecasts ultimately proved accurate across much of Denmark. The predictions, which included warnings of “very dangerous weather” from DMI, were met with public skepticism and accusations of alarmism on social media. However, rainfall measurements confirmed the severity of the weather event, vindicating the meteorologists’ alerts.

Several locations experienced rainfall levels nearing historical records. The village of Neble on Møn recorded 160 millimeters of rain, with an unofficial measurement reaching 200 millimeters in just 20 hours. This amount is likely to place the event among the top ten wettest 24-hour periods in Danish history. The nationwide rainfall of 34 millimeters on Tuesday was the highest in 31 years.

DMI’s warning of “very dangerous weather,” specifically for rain, was unprecedented and drew criticism. While the term is typically associated with severe storms or hurricanes, DMI clarified that the warning was intended to highlight the potential impact on infrastructure, including risks of aquaplaning and flooded basements. The on-duty meteorologist acknowledged the potential for misinterpretation, emphasizing that the concern was not about drowning but rather the broader consequences of extreme rainfall.

The heavy rainfall caused significant disruption and damage across the affected regions. Flooding impacted homes, businesses, and agricultural lands, leading to property damage and potential crop losses. Traffic disruptions occurred due to waterlogged roads and railway tracks, affecting motorists and train passengers. While Greater Copenhagen was spared the worst of the rainfall, other parts of the country experienced severe conditions.

While acknowledging past forecasting errors, the article concludes that meteorologists accurately predicted the recent downpour. The author contrasts this instance with the 2011 Copenhagen cloudburst, where warnings were issued too late. In this case, the weather models provided reasonably good control over the violent and prolonged downpour, demonstrating the value of accurate weather forecasting.