Flooding in Denmark Becoming the Norm

“Once-in-a-century” already becoming far more frequent

Wednesday, emergency departments, police and military personnel, and volunteers across the nation fought off flooding as sea levels dramatically rose in Danish waters.

Levels rose as high as 177 cm (5.8ft) above sea level in southern Denmark, and 157 cm (5.2ft) just south of Copenhagen.

The flooding hit southern Denmark worst, but parts of Copenhagen were also flooded, particularly in Amager and Dragør.

At one point Wednesday evening, Denmark even called on its neighbours Sweden and Germany for emergency assistance.

Climate change on the charge
The national weather forecaster DMI described the event as a “once-in-a-century” event, but as flood waters begin to subside across the nation, experts warn the Danes might have to get used to flooding of this nature.

“The historically abnormal weather we see today following one low-pressure system after another low-pressure system, which can result in flooding, is a reminder that climate change is in full vigor,” Jens Hesselbjerg, a climate professor at the University of Copenhagen, told Metroxpress newspaper.

“We can’t rule out that climate change’s effect on flooding is accelerating even more swiftly than we had anticipated.”

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