April has set a remarkable record this year as the wettest month in over 150 years in Denmark. With a total precipitation of 98.7 millimeters, it has surpassed the previous record from 1938, when 98 millimeters of rain fell. According to Mikael Scharling, a climatologist at the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), it is particularly the first days of the month that have contributed to the record. “In the first five days of April, there was a total of 53 millimeters of rain, which is more than half of the total monthly precipitation,” he explains.
This unusual amount of precipitation is not only a result of climate change, but also of coincidences. “April is normally one of the driest months, but this year has been an exception,” says Scharling, adding that historically, April has been a very stable month with few fluctuations in precipitation amounts. With this new record, it is expected that the month will end with over 100 millimeters of rain, as more precipitation is still expected in the last days of the month.
It is worth noting that 2023 has already been a year with several rainfall records in Denmark. Both January and July earlier this year set records for precipitation with 124.5 millimeters and 140.8 millimeters, respectively. This trend of increased precipitation is being closely monitored by meteorologists and climate scientists, as it can have significant consequences for both the environment and society.