Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for unsettled weather through the period.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Dry, sunny morning. Cloudy, windy, rain and summit snow later.
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 700m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 700m) |
<05% | <05% | 10% | >95% | >95% | 50% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
SW
26
|
SW
33
|
S
30
|
S
39
|
S
35
|
SW
28
|
| 300m |
SW
10
|
SW
11
|
SW
13
|
S
20
|
S
19
|
SW
15
|
| Valley |
SW
9
|
SW
11
|
S
12
|
S
17
|
S
15
|
SW
12
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 38 | 46 | 41 | 54 | 48 | 38 |
| 300m | 21 | 24 | 25 | 36 | 32 | 27 |
| Valley | 22 | 25 | 26 | 34 | 30 | 24 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
1°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
2°
|
2°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
700m
|
500m
|
800m
|
800m
|
900m
|
1,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-4°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
-2°
|
-2°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Gusts of 40-50mph much of the day will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance, and note the strengthening winds later with a chance of 50-60mph winds over the highest summits. Navigation could be challenging with energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind.
Weather
Clear and then bright or sunny spells throughout the morning. Gradually clouding over in the afternoon as a more organised band of rain spreads east, falling as snow above 700-800m, accompanied by strengthening winds. Slowly improving again in late evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% or higher in morning. Falling widely 20% or less in afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Good visibilities and clear summits through the morning. Cloud becomes widespread down to 300-500m from the west through the afternoon and visibilities falling poor in hill fog and rain or summit snow.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Dry with bright spells. Variable patches of low cloud in the morning and again forming in the evening. Strong southwest winds easing later.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
90% or higher.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 25-35mph in the morning.
Temperature
- At 700m Minus 3C to plus 1C.
- Valley Zero rising to plus 6C.
- Freezing level 800m falling to 600m.
Low cloud and visibility
Good visibilities and clear summits, but a few patches of cloud between around 200-500m in the morning, and fog patches forming in valleys through the evening.
Mountain weather information
Fri 16 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with variable cloud and some bright spells in the morning. Scattered showers later, heavy at times.
Sat 17 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and variable cloud, chance of a few showers. Freezing level around 1000m. Light winds.
Sun 18 Jan
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright spells and variable cloud, chance of a few showers. Freezing level around 1000-1200m. Moderate southerly 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.