Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence in generally unsettled conditions. Low confidence in details Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
This evening forecast
Scattered showers feed in from the west through the evening, heavy at times and sleety over the very highest summits. Summits often clear and good visibilities outside of showers, but visibilities falling rapidly and temporarily poor and cloud extensive down to 500-700m as showers pass through. Southwest winds 35-45mph, gusting 45-60mph at times. Feeling 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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Some showers morning, dry by midday. Rain afternoon, clearing evening. Windy.
| 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) |
70% | 50% | 40% | 20% | 50% | 90% | 40% | 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 |
SW
34
|
W
39
|
W
38
|
W
36
|
SW
25
|
SW
19
|
SW
24
|
SW
28
|
| 300m |
SW
17
|
W
20
|
W
19
|
W
18
|
SW
14
|
SW
10
|
S
9
|
SW
15
|
| Valley |
SW
12
|
W
16
|
W
15
|
W
14
|
SW
11
|
SW
8
|
S
6
|
SW
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 | 46 | 54 | 52 | 50 | 34 | 25 | 32 | 39 |
| 300m | 30 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 24 | 16 | 17 | 26 |
| Valley | 27 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 22 | 16 | 16 | 25 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
3°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
6°
|
5°
|
6°
|
8°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
10°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,000m
|
1,100m
|
1,500m
|
2,100m
|
2,300m
|
2,400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| Time | 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Gusts of perhaps 45-60mph over the highest summits will give difficult walking conditions with a risk of being blown off balance. Navigation could be challenging with energy output significantly increased when walking into the wind. Feeling cold at height so suitable clothing is advised.
Weather
Scattered showers feed in from the west through the early morning, heavy at times and perhaps sleety over the summit of Slieve Donard. These showers will die out through the morning, becoming mostly dry by midday. Then cloud and rain spread northeast through the afternoon, clearing through the evening but with some patches of low cloud remaining. Strong winds in the morning will ease somewhat in the late morning, then strong south to southwest winds developing in the afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50% at first, rising 80% or more by midday. Falling 20% or less in the afternoon.
Low cloud and visibility
Often clear summits and good visibilities in the morning, but cloud rapidly and temporarily becoming quite extensive down to 500-700m and visibilities falling poor as showers pass through. Summits become clear through late morning before cloud becomes extensive again through the afternoon and visibilities once more dropping poor in hill fog and outbreaks of rain.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Low confidence. Cloudy but mainly during the day. Chance of rain spreading east in the evening. Small chance of persistent and at times heavy rain at times throughout the day. Strong winds. A touch milder than Monday, but still cold at height.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30%.
Maximum wind speed expected
South to southwest 35-45mph, gusting 50-60mph possible at height.
Temperature
- At 700m Plus 4C to plus 6C.
- Valley Plus 7C rising to plus 11C.
- Freezing level Above summits
Low cloud and visibility
Quite extensive amounts of cloud down to 400-600m with poor visibilities in hill fog and outbreaks of rain, but some clear breaks at times in between, the best chance of these over northern leeward exposures.
Mountain weather information
Wed 25 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Low confidence. Cloud and rain in the morning, clearing later in the day. Freezing level above summits. Strong southerly winds easing.
Thu 26 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain or showers, heavy at times. Strong southwest winds. Freezing level above summits.
Fri 27 Feb
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rain in the morning, then showers, heavy at times. Strong southwest winds veer northwest. Freezing level above summits falling to 800m or so later
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.