Ahead of Storm Otto: Evacuations underway in Copenhagen

Storm Otto is expected to bring hurricane-force winds to Denmark through Friday 17th February, triggering evacuations in Copenhagen.

Residents of the Bellahøj houses in Copenhagen are in need of evacuating due to living in a wind-sensitive high-rise building. During the day, buses will transport residents to a hotel for the night, until the storm has passed.

Ahead of Storm Otto arriving, there has already been several traffic disruptions with trains and ferries cancelled, and people urged to stay off the roads.

Peak wind gusts are expected along the Jutland coasts, with most extreme predictions from weather models indicating up to 90 mph during Friday afternoon and evening, while the storm and its impacts will then spread eastwards through the night.

Coastal areas are also at risk of seeing high waves and rough seas, with summerhouses vulnerable to plunging off the cliffs along the north-west coast.

Storm Otto, named by the Danish Met Service, first impacted the UK Thursday night and into Friday morning, before continuing its journey eastwards to Denmark.