Denmark has experienced a historically warm spring season, as announced by the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) in a press release. The average temperatures in March, April, and May reached 9.1 degrees Celsius, marking a new record. This temperature is 1.8 degrees higher than the climate normal for the period from 1991 to 2020. The previous record, set in 2007, has been surpassed by 0.1 degree. According to the National Centre for Climate Research, which is part of DMI, this new record could be an indication of future trends.
Mark Payne, the scientific leader of DMI’s Climate Atlas, stated that the average spring temperature in Denmark could rise by an additional 2 degrees to 9.1 degrees by the end of this century compared to the period from 1981 to 2010 if current global climate policies continue. However, he emphasizes that the climate in the future may be influenced by the decisions made today. This year, both March, April, and May have had temperatures above average, and the spring of 2024 has also been recorded as the third wettest in Denmark’s history.
Until Friday, when DMI issued the press release, 197 millimeters of precipitation had already fallen. Another remarkable observation from DMI is that this spring is only the third time in 129 years where there has been no night frost in May. The previous occurrences were in 1889 and 1895. This year’s unusual weather conditions underscore the increasing importance of climate change and the need for action.