Large text Medium text Small Text Send a link Read aloud Print page

Hot weather and heatwaves

Hot weather and heatwaves can cause malaise and, in the worst possible case, heatstroke. Malaise and heatstroke can be prevented – learn more about this in the right column of this page named related links. 

The Danish meteorological definition of a heatwave is when the average of the highest recorded temperatures measured over three consecutive days exceeds 28° C. If the temperatures are much higher than usual both during the day and at night-time, it can be hard to cool down at night. Air humidity is also a factor in terms of how much of a strain the heat places on the body. In hot weather, the higher the air humidity, the harder it is for the body to dissipate heat. Thus, it is the combination of high temperatures during the day, high temperatures at night and high air humidity which puts the greatest strain on people’s health in periods of extremely hot weather.

Heatstroke can develop slowly. Some people can find it hard to sense they are becoming critically hot. People who are able to look after themselves in normal temperatures may need some extra attention and care during hot weather spells and heatwaves. These include older people living alone, people suffering from dementia, or people who are mentally ill. Some advice is therefore directed at relatives and personnel who are in contact with people who need to take special care in hot weather. Read more about this in the right column of this page named related links.