Denmark sweltering through hottest May in perhaps decades

A strong finish could see May 2016 become the second hottest in history

With temperatures creeping over 25 degrees C and sunshine beaming down every day, it’s hard to disagree that this has been a great start to the Danish summer.

In fact, according to the national weather forecaster DMI, this May has been the warmest for 14 years. And thanks to two sweltering days to end the month – today is expected to close in on 28 degrees – it might be the hottest for almost 70 years.

“There is an almost 100 percent chance of May being the warmest for at least 14 years,” said DMI meteorologist Mikael Scharling, pointing to the average monthly temperature possibly ending up at 12.8 degrees.

“12.9 degrees would give us the warmest May for 23 years. 13.0 isn’t likely, but if so, then it would be the hottest May since 1947 – so 69 years ago.”

READ MORE: Danish summer off to a brilliant start

Can’t touch 1889
The hottest May since records began was back in 1889 with an average temperature of 13.8 degrees.

The May in 1947 was the second hottest (13.4) followed by 1993 (12.9), 1992 (12.8), 2002 (12.8), 1911 (12.7), 1921 (12.7), 2000 (12.7), 2008 (12.6) and 1950 (12.4).

The average temperature of a normal May is about 10.8 degrees.




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