Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
A very cold outlook for the coming days with some wintry showers. Slightly milder air returns on Friday but there are uncertainties in how quickly this will move across the country. Keep an eye for the latest forecast towards the weekend with low confidence for the forecast on Sunday at this time.
This evening forecast
Snow showers continuing through the evening, fresh northerly winds. Bitterly cold with severe windchill. Showers tending to die out later.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Blizzards
Blizzards and whiteouts present challenging and serious conditions due to a combination of falling or blowing snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. They can be highly disorientating, often resulting in near-zero visibility with limited or no visual references and no distinction between ground and sky. Cliff edges and cornices may not be apparent, even close up. These conditions require very good navigational skills.
Heavy Persistent Snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk 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
A few early wintry showers will clear but it will remain cloudy and very cold with fresh northwesterly winds.
| 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) |
40% | 40% | 20% | 30% | 20% | 20% | 20% | 20% |
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 |
NW
25
|
NW
28
|
NW
28
|
NW
30
|
NW
28
|
NW
28
|
NW
27
|
NW
23
|
| 300m |
NW
14
|
NW
17
|
NW
18
|
NW
18
|
NW
17
|
NW
17
|
NW
14
|
NW
12
|
| Valley |
NW
12
|
NW
14
|
NW
15
|
NW
15
|
NW
15
|
NW
14
|
NW
12
|
NW
11
|
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 | 33 | 38 | 38 | 41 | 37 | 38 | 37 | 31 |
| 300m | 24 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 22 |
| Valley | 23 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 20 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
3°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| Freezing Level |
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
300m
|
400m
|
300m
|
300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-11°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-12°
|
-10°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
| 300m |
-6°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| Valley |
-5°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Severe windchill in the freezing conditions, with strong winds and dampness of showers enhancing that further in the east.
Weather
Some overnight snow showers likely but tending to die out during the day leaving a mainly dry day but quite cloudy in the morning, some sunny spells developing in the afternoon. Mist and fog forming easily during the evening and a very cold night with clear spells developing later on Thursday.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
40%, low cloud tending to stick around the summits in the morning, best chance in the afternoon
Low cloud and visibility
Layers of broken cloud are expected above 500m, cloud tending to break and thin in the afternoon with the chance of temporary clearance of the summits. Visibility will be good below the cloud but poor at times towards the summits and in any showers.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A very cold start on Friday with a severe frost and hardening of any lying snow. Clear skies overnight will lead into a dry and bright day with sunny spells. Light northerly winds will turn southerly during the morning and strengthen, with slightly milder air moving across the area. Clouding over later in the afternoon with some light rain or snow arriving from the west in the evening. Freezing level will lift towards the summits during the night.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% falling to 50% later, patchy cloud initially will lift and clear, cloud thickening in the west later.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northerly turning southwesterly 10 mph, strengthening in the afternoon to 35mph gusts 45mph later in the evening.
Temperature
- At 700m Minus 3 rising to Plus 1 Celsius later.
- Valley Minus 6 rising to Plus 3 Celsius later.
- Freezing level 300m lifting to 1000m later.
Low cloud and visibility
Patches of cloud around summits in the morning, lifting and clearing. Cloud forming in the afternoon around summits until. Excellent visibility in the morning, becoming hazier in the afternoon as cloud forms, turning moderate later as rain or sleet returns.
Mountain weather information
Sat 22 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Overnight rain clearing early and a dry day although remaining cloudy in the morning but then brighter spells developing, light southwesterly winds and still feeling chilly in the damp conditions. Freezing level just above all summits.
Sun 23 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence in forecast for Sunday but likely to be a cloudy and cold day with some rain or sleet and strong winds. Freezing level just above all summits.
Mon 24 Nov
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Continuing the cold, cloudy theme but details limited for Monday, likely to be northerly winds and a cloudy day.
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.