Denmark’s state weather forecaster DMI warned on Monday of extremely heavy rainfall and thunder for every region in Denmark except the island of Bornholm.
Danish Meteorological Institute said in a “risk report” published on Monday morning that extremely heavy and concentrated rainfall, and even cloudbursts, could potentially hit on Monday and also possibly on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“Forecasters are not yet in agreement on how much precipitation will fall. In some places, it will fall somewhat less,” Mette Wagner, DMI’s meteorologist, wrote in the report. “Where the probability of large amounts of precipitation is greatest is in North Jutland and North Zealand.”
Cloudbursts, classed as more than 15 millimeters of rain falling within 30 minutes, can lead to flooded basements, water damage through leaky roofs, sewage coming up through toilets, and water coming through open windows and doors, the If insurance company said in a press release.
“It’s really a shame to get water in the basement and lose irreplaceable memories when it could possibly be avoided with simple measures,” Helene Ibsen, housing manager at If said.
“That’s why we encourage you to move valuable things away from the basement floor now and ensure that water cannot find its way into the house.”
DMI has not ruled out upgrading the risk report to a yellow weather warning if cloudbursts start to be reported.
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The weather and heavy rainfall is being caused by a cocktail of warm and humid air ahead of a cold front, which will move into the country on Tuesday morning.
“The warm air rises and then forms beautiful, bubbling cumulus clouds, which, due to the unstable atmosphere, continue to grow larger and taller until they eventually develop into cumulonimbus clouds,” DMI’s meteorologists explained in a post.
“It is these clouds that cause showers, which can in places be heavy and accompanied by thunder.”