Denmark records hottest day since 1874 as heat wave grips nation

The Danish Meteorological Institute announced Saturday that Denmark recorded its highest temperature since national observations began in 1874, with thermometers reaching 36.6 degrees Celsius (97.9 degrees Fahrenheit) north of Odense and eclipsing a benchmark that had stood since 1975.

All-time high shattered

The record was measured at H.C. Andersen Airport north of Odense, breaking the previous all-time high of 36.4 degrees Celsius (97.5 degrees Fahrenheit) set in Holstebro on Aug. 10, 1975. "The absolute record has also been broken," the institute said on X, noting the new mark was established before the day concluded. Earlier Saturday, DMI confirmed Denmark logged its hottest June day since 1874 after temperatures reached 35.8 degrees Celsius (96.4 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous June record of 35.5 degrees Celsius (95.9 degrees Fahrenheit) set in Hillerod in 1947.

The heat wave also produced Denmark's warmest June night on record, with the temperature on the island of Fano not falling below 22.7 degrees Celsius (72.9 degrees Fahrenheit) and marking a tropical night where overnight temperatures remain above 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). DMI climatologist Frans Rubek stated that temperatures were expected to continue climbing through Saturday afternoon. Road authorities temporarily restricted the movement of exceptionally heavy vehicles during the hottest part of Friday to prevent damage to softened asphalt, according to the institute.

Historical context

The average maximum temperature in June over the past decade has been just 19.1 degrees Celsius (66.4 degrees Fahrenheit), DMI noted, underscoring the exceptional nature of Saturday's readings. Temperature records in Denmark date back to 1874, when the Danish Meteorological Institute began systematic national observations.