Denmark faces a major snowstorm with Copenhagen Airport activating its full snow removal teams after 23 flight cancellations. The Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) issued a category two warning for dangerous weather, forecasting heavy snow and strong winds from Monday morning through Tuesday. The airport is preparing for significant disruption as the storm moves across the eastern part of the country.
Airport Operations on High Alert
Copenhagen Airport press officer Julie Pi Boll stated the airport is closely monitoring the developing situation. She confirmed that preparations are already in full swing. “We are following the situation closely, and we are already in full swing with preparations and have our entire snow removal equipment ready,” Boll said Sunday evening. The majority of the 23 cancelled flights are routes to and from German airports, including Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin, and Hannover. Several flights from US airports have also been cancelled due to severe winter conditions there.
The operational challenge is substantial. Category two is the second-highest warning level, indicating ‘dangerous weather’. The specific criteria for a snowstorm, as defined by DMI, are more than 10 centimeters of snow within six hours combined with an average wind speed exceeding 10 meters per second. These conditions create near-zero visibility and rapidly accumulating snow, requiring constant clearance work on runways and taxiways to maintain any semblance of normal operations. Airport ground crews are working in shifts to manage the accumulation.
Meteorological Warnings and Projections
On-duty meteorologist Rasmus Stoltze Hansen provided detailed projections earlier on Sunday. He indicated that several areas can expect winds blowing between 10 and 15 meters per second, with snowfall between 10 and 15 centimeters. “So the snow stands as much horizontally as it falls vertically from the sky. That is what has triggered a snowstorm warning,” Hansen explained. The most significant snowfall is expected in a belt from Als over South Funen, Lolland, Falster, South Zealand, and Møn to Bornholm, with local accumulations potentially reaching 15 to 20 centimeters.
The timing of the storm is particularly problematic for Monday commuters. “The most significant snowfall is clearly expected in the morning hours, when it starts at 8:00, and then it moves slowly through the morning, midday, and afternoon hours,” Hansen said. Simultaneously, the wind will increase, with DMI predicting a light to hard wind from the northeast. Coastal areas will experience the strongest gusts, further reducing visibility and creating drifts that complicate transportation infrastructure beyond the airport.
Broader Transport Disruption Across Denmark
The impact of the incoming storm extends far beyond air travel. National railway company DSB announced it will run fewer trains during rush hour on several lines Monday due to the expected conditions. This pre-emptive reduction aims to avoid stranding passengers if points freeze or tracks become blocked, but it will lead to crowded carriages and longer wait times for commuters. The decision reflects lessons from past winter weather events that paralyzed parts of the network.
On the roads, police in Southern and South Jutland are proactively advising motorists in the municipalities of Aabenraa and Sønderborg to consider working from home if possible. This advisory seeks to reduce the number of vehicles on potentially hazardous roads, minimizing the risk of accidents that would further strain emergency services. Police and road authorities are urging drivers who must travel to ensure their vehicles are properly winterized and to carry emergency supplies, including warm clothing, a shovel, and a fully charged phone.
Passenger Experience and Contingency Planning
For passengers at Copenhagen Airport, the advice is to check flight status continuously with their airline before traveling to the airport. Airlines are managing the rebooking and accommodation processes for those on cancelled flights. The airport's contingency plans include providing timely information via its website and app, and ensuring staff are available to assist stranded travelers within the terminals. However, with many cancellations involving international hubs, the knock-on effects for connecting passengers will last several days.
The situation remains fluid. As Julie Pi Boll noted, it is difficult to predict exactly how the weather will develop. The airport's response will adapt to the real-time conditions reported by its own meteorological team and DMI. The primary goal is to maintain safety while restoring normal operations as quickly as possible once the storm passes. The efficiency of Denmark's coordinated response between transport authorities, meteorologists, and emergency services is now being tested by this first major winter event of the season.