Christmas traffic in Denmark extra hectic this year

Meteorologists predict rain and strong winds for the Christmas weekend

Christmas traffic will be busier this year than usually, alerts the Danish road directorate, Vejdirektoratet.

Because December 23 falls on a week day, the usual rush-hour traffic will be exacerbated by drivers leaving towns for the holidays.

“To prevent getting stuck in traffic, it’s a good idea to avoid driving between 14:00 and 20:00,” Charlotte Vithen, a manager at Vejdirektoratet, told DR.

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Greater risk of accidents
Long delays are expected especially on major roads out of Copenhagen, across Funen and Jutland and also between Kolding and Aarhus.

Heavy traffic is also expected on the Great Belt Bridge between Zealand and Funen, where some 200,000 cars are estimated to cross the sea between December 23-27.

Meanwhile, December 26 will be a busy day to travel for those returning home after the Christmas weekend.

Vejdirektoratet also warns that due to the heavy traffic there will be a greater risk of accidents, so drivers should be especially vigilant.

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White Christmas highly unlikely
The Danes should also prepare for a wet and windy Christmas this year.

DMI forecasters predict overcast conditions, rain showers and gale-force winds for the Christmas weekend.

However, temperatures will remain above the freezing point at about 5-8 C, so the chances for a white Christmas are highly unlikely.