Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for unsettled weather and strong southeast winds. Low confidence in daily cloud and rain or summit snow details
This evening forecast
Widespread cloud down to 300-500m and persistent showery rain, freezing level above 1000-1200m. Southwest winds 25-35mph, gusting 45mph at times. Feeling bitterly cold at height.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
Severe Chill Effect
Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.
Poor Visibility
Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.
Storm Force Winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
Mountain weather forecast
Dry morning. Rain afternoon. Strengthening southeast winds. Cold at height.
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 700m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 700m) |
<05% | <05% | <05% | <05% | 90% | 70% | 50% | 50% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
SW
10
|
S
13
|
SE
21
|
SE
34
|
SE
42
|
SE
50
|
SE
37
|
SE
40
|
| 300m |
SW
5
|
SE
4
|
SE
9
|
SE
18
|
SE
23
|
SE
29
|
SE
21
|
SE
22
|
| Valley |
SW
3
|
SE
3
|
SE
7
|
SE
15
|
SE
20
|
SE
25
|
SE
18
|
SE
19
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 12 | 17 | 28 | 48 | 58 | 70 | 51 | 55 |
| 300m | 9 | 9 | 17 | 32 | 41 | 49 | 36 | 39 |
| Valley | 8 | 7 | 16 | 32 | 40 | 48 | 35 | 37 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Valley |
4°
|
2°
|
3°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
800m
|
800m
|
800m
|
1,000m
|
1,200m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-3°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Note the strengthening winds through the day, with gusts over 60mph giving very difficult walking conditions with progress highly impeded and a significant risk of being blown over and storm force gusts over the highest summits meaning any mobility will be almost impossible on exposed ground with a risk of being blown off your feet.
Weather
Dry in the morning with areas of cloud around low elevations but clear summits. Widespread cloud and rain spread northeast through the afternoon. Turning showery through the evening. Feeling bitterly cold with strong southeast winds.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
80% in the morning. Little chance in afternoon. 30% in evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Summits clear and good visibilities in the morning, but some quite extensive areas of cloud below 300m through the early morning, this lifting and breaking after dawn. Widespread cloud down to 300-500m and poor visibilities in heavy rain through the afternoon. A few breaks developing between showers in the evening.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Clear spells and a few showers in the morning. Widespread cloud and heavy rain through the middle of the day. Some limited breaks as rain turns more showery through the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% morning and evening. Little chance in afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
East to southeast 40-50mph, gusting 55-65mph.
Temperature
- At 700m 1C to plus 4C
- Valley Plus 4C to plus 9C.
- Freezing level 1000-1200m at first, briefly falling to 800m in late morning, rising to 1600m in afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Quite frequent areas of cloud down to 300-500m and visibilities falling poor as showers pass through in the morning and evening. This becomes extensive for a time in the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Thu 22 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Overcast with rain, perhaps heavy and persistent for a time. Freezing level above summits. Strong east to southeast winds.
Fri 23 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with spells of rain and a few drier interludes. Freezing level around 1000m. Strong east to southeast winds.
Sat 24 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Scattered showers, heavy at times. A few brighter spells. Freezing level around 800m. Strong east to southeast winds.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
The Mourne Mountains are a granite mountain range in County Down in the southeast of Northern Ireland, is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and has been proposed as the first National Park in Northern Ireland.