Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for generally unsettled weather with spells of strong wind and rain. Confidence lowers from Sunday in regard to detail and timing of rainfall events.
This evening forecast
A dry and clear start but soon turning cloudy through the evening. Moderate southwesterly winds but strong over highest ground. Freezing level 700m rising to above the summits.
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.
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.
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
A dry start but heavy rain and cloud spreading eastwards later. Gale force winds on the hills.
| 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) |
00% | 00% | 00% | 40% | 90% | 80% | 60% | 40% |
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
20
|
SW
23
|
SW
20
|
S
31
|
S
41
|
SE
49
|
S
41
|
S
27
|
| 300m |
SW
7
|
SW
8
|
SW
7
|
S
15
|
S
24
|
SE
30
|
S
26
|
S
16
|
| Valley |
SW
6
|
SW
7
|
S
5
|
S
13
|
S
21
|
SE
27
|
S
23
|
S
13
|
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 | 27 | 33 | 27 | 42 | 58 | 70 | 58 | 37 |
| 300m | 15 | 17 | 15 | 28 | 41 | 52 | 44 | 27 |
| Valley | 14 | 18 | 12 | 28 | 39 | 50 | 41 | 25 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
2°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
4°
|
2°
|
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,000m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
900m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
1,600m
|
1,400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
After a fine start turning wet and windy with a risk of severe wind chill. Appropriate warm and waterproof clothing needed. Tricky navigation at times with persistent low cloud through the afternoon and strong winds may make for difficult walking conditions.
Weather
Dry through much of the morning with some clear spells and patchy hill fog. From late morning turning overcast with heavy rain spreading eastwards. Rain clears through evening with a few showers left lingering. Strong southerly winds reaching severe gale, perhaps storm force on the highest ground, in the afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% for much of the morning, falling to 10% chance as rain arrives and cloud cover increases from late morning.
Low cloud and visibility
Isolated low cloud with base 800m for much of the morning. Cloud lowering and becoming more extensive from late morning with widespread bases down to 600m and dropping as low as 200-400m at times. Visibility good in the morning outside of rain but moderate to poor in cloud and rain later.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A cloudy day with widespread hill fog. Some outbreaks of light rain through the day but still plenty of dry spells. Fresh southerly winds turning westerly.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10%.
Maximum wind speed expected
South-westerly 15-20mph gusting 25-30mph.
Temperature
- At 700m Plus 5 Celsius.
- Valley Plus 8 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above summits.
Low cloud and visibility
Widespread low cloud down to base 700m with bases falling as low as 300-400m at times. Tops covered most of the day with very isolated and fleeting breaks in the cloud. Visibility good outside of cloud but moderate to poor in rain and hill fog.
Mountain weather information
Sun 7 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with heavy rain in the morning clearing to dry and largely clear skies. Strong southwesterly winds. Freezing level above summits.
Mon 8 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Sunny spells and showers. Strong southwesterly winds. Freezing level above summits.
Tue 9 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Heavy rain early Tuesday, drier with clear spells later. Strong to gale force southwesterly winds. Freezing level above summits.
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.