Mountain weather

Mountain weather

Mourne Mountains

Confidence

High confidence for showery conditions until Friday but low confidence in local detail. Lower confidence over the weekend due to uncertainty in detail of passing low.

Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

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.
Heavy Persistent Rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.

Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.

Mountain weather forecast

Persistent rain at first then brighter but with frequent showers, some heavy. Strong southwest summit winds.

Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
Weather
(at 800m)
Weather symbols Heavy Rain Heavy Rain Heavy rain showers Heavy rain showers Heavy rain showers Light rain
Chance of
precipitation
(at 800m)
Chance of precipitation
90%
80%
70%
70%
70%
70%

Wind direction and speed

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
600m
600m S 27mph knots
S
27mph
SW 29mph knots
SW
29mph
SW 30mph knots
SW
30mph
W 30mph knots
W
30mph
SW 27mph knots
SW
27mph
SW 29mph knots
SW
29mph
300m
300m S 14mph knots
S
14mph
SW 17mph knots
SW
17mph
SW 17mph knots
SW
17mph
W 15mph knots
W
15mph
SW 14mph knots
SW
14mph
SW 16mph knots
SW
16mph
Valley
Valley S 12mph knots
S
12mph
SW 13mph knots
SW
13mph
SW 15mph knots
SW
15mph
W 13mph knots
W
13mph
SW 11mph knots
SW
11mph
SW 13mph knots
SW
13mph

Wind gust

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
600m
600m 35mph 39mph 41mph 41mph 37mph 40mph
300m
300m 24mph 28mph 28mph 27mph 25mph 27mph
Valley
Valley 24mph 26mph 28mph 28mph 25mph 26mph

Altitude above mean sea level
Time
Time
06:00
09:00
12:00
15:00
18:00
21:00
600m
600m 3 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 6 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 5 degrees Celsius 3 degrees Celsius
300m
300m 7 degrees Celsius 8 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius 7 degrees Celsius
Valley
Valley 8 degrees Celsius 10 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 12 degrees Celsius 11 degrees Celsius 9 degrees Celsius
Freezing Level Freezing Level
2300m
2100m
2100m
1900m
1900m
1900m

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Low cloud and heavy rain make walking conditions difficult in the morning. These conditions improve as the cloud lifts from the afternoon.

Weather

Cloudy with persistent heavy rain at first, then becoming somewhat brighter with a few sunny intervals along with frequent heavy showers, perhaps accompanied by lightning.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

10% rising 80% during morning

Low cloud and visibility

Overcast 300-500m at first becoming broken above summits during morning but occasionally overcast in further showers with patches to 800m. Below cloud, poor visibility at first and during showers, between which it will be good.

Ground conditions

No recent ground conditions report available.

Summit specific forecast