Storm Otto is heading towards Denmark: It could be the strongest in several years, prompting warnings.
According to the Danish weather agency DMI, the storm, which DMI has named Otto and which is regularly accompanied by tornadoes, is currently heading towards Denmark and will affect the weather on Friday from the afternoon until Saturday night. Many forecasts indicate that the storm could be the strongest to hit Denmark in several years.
The strongest storm in more than six years
Many forecasts show that Storm Otto could be the strongest storm to hit Denmark in more than six years. If the average wind speed reaches more than 28.1 meters per second, Otto will surpass the two winter storms Malek and Nora in 2022, which had maximum wind speeds of 27.9 and 28.1 meters per second. The highest wind speed measured during the 2016 storm was 29.4 meters per second, and the period of more than six years without a strong storm in Denmark is the longest period that has been measured.
Starting tomorrow morning, Friday, strong winds are expected to begin due to the passage of low-pressure fronts, which are expected to cause heavy rainfall across many areas for several hours.
Storms in West Jutland
Wind speeds will increase, and particularly from around 3 p.m. on Friday, winds could develop into storms over a large area of the west coast of Jutland. There is a high probability that average wind speeds could reach between 25 and 28 meters per second along the coast from the Ringkøbing Fjord and all the way north to Skagen.
The average wind speed can also reach 29 meters per second along the Jammerbugten coast, which - if it happens - would be classified as a severe storm.
Throughout the aforementioned region, gusts of wind can reach hurricane force, ranging between 33 and 39 meters per second.
Strong storms or tornadoes may continue to appear in the aforementioned areas until midnight on Saturday.
Winds from storms across the country and the risk of rising water levels
In the Kattegat region, including the North Zealand coast and around Bornholm, there is also a possibility of very strong gale-force winds, while the rest of the country remains susceptible to gale-force or strong storms. .
Storms and rising water levels are expected
Wind speeds are expected to generally peak in the early evening hours in the northwestern part of the country, and only late on Friday evening over the southeastern regions. In addition, the strong winds will also cause water levels to rise, and on Saturday morning water levels in parts of the Kattegat region may rise to more than one meter.
Beaufort Wind Scale – Wind force classification in Denmark according to the international Beaufort scale:
Hurricane: > 32.6 m/s
Strong storm: 28.5 – 32.6 m/s
Storm: 24.5 – 28.4 m/s
Stormy wind: 20.8 – 24.4 m/s
Strong storm: 17.2 – 20.7 m/s
Storm: 13.9 – 17.1 m/s
Strong winds: 10.8 – 13.8 m/s
Pure winds: 8.0 – 10.7 m/s
Steady winds: 5.5 – 7.9 m/s
Light winds: 3.4 – 5.4 m/s
Light winds: 1.6 – 3.3 m/s
Semi-quiet: 0.3 – 1.5 m/s
Quiet: <0.3 m/s
