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What counts as a storm in Denmark?

Wind speed decides the name: gale, storm or hurricane.

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Short answer

A storm warning in Denmark means a mean wind above 24,5 m/s over a representative area, and a hurricane (orkan) means above 32,6 m/s. A storm-force gale (stormende kuling) is a mean wind of 20,8–24,5 m/s with gusts of storm or hurricane force. The strongest gust on land in Denmark is 53,5 m/s (192,6 km/h) at Kegnæs Fyr on 28 October 2013. Winter 2025–2026 had no wind events on the Danish storm list.

Weather and seasons

Why

  1. A storm warning covers at least one municipality.
  2. Meteorologists measure wind in metres per second (m/s).
  3. Warnings let ferries and trains be cancelled in advance.

Details

The highest 10-minute mean wind is 39,5 m/s (142,2 km/h) at Røsnæs Fyr, also on 28 October 2013.

Tip

On stormy days, check ferry and train departures before you leave and follow the warnings in the DMI app.

What may differ

Storms can also raise or lower water levels for days after the wind has dropped.

Common misconception

A storm is defined by the strongest gust.

What actually happens

Storm and hurricane are defined by the mean wind; gusts only add to the warning.

People also ask

  • How are storms named in Denmark?
  • What is a stormflod?
  • What do the DMI warning levels mean?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Weather varies a lot from year to year, so check the DMI forecast before you travel.

Weather and seasons
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