Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
Medium confidence around timing of rainfall and cloud bases over the weekend but high confidence for a change to cold showery northerly later on Monday.
This evening forecast
Remaining cloudy with a few spots of rain possible, mainly light winds.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
A mainly dry start but cloud and rain soon spreading east.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 700m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 700m) |
20% | 20% | 60% | 70% | 70% | 40% | 30% | 30% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
N
11
|
NW
9
|
SW
8
|
SW
10
|
SW
15
|
SW
20
|
W
24
|
W
24
|
| 300m |
N
5
|
W
2
|
SW
4
|
SW
6
|
SW
10
|
SW
11
|
W
13
|
W
12
|
| Valley |
N
4
|
SW
1
|
SW
2
|
SW
5
|
SW
7
|
SW
8
|
W
11
|
W
10
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 15 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 20 | 27 | 33 | 33 |
| 300m | 10 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 23 | 21 |
| Valley | 9 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 21 | 20 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
7°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
9°
|
11°
|
12°
|
11°
|
| 300m |
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
10°
|
11°
|
13°
|
14°
|
13°
|
| Valley |
10°
|
9°
|
9°
|
10°
|
12°
|
14°
|
15°
|
14°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,200m
|
2,100m
|
2,200m
|
2,900m
|
3,100m
|
3,000m
|
3,000m
|
2,900m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| 300m |
8°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
11°
|
12°
|
10°
|
| Valley |
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
10°
|
10°
|
13°
|
13°
|
12°
|
Additional weather information
Weather
A dry start to the day but cloud soon thickening and bases lowering as outbreaks of mainly light and patchy rain will spread east during the morning. Rain will turn patchy and drizzly in the afternoon, becoming drier in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 700m
In the early morning 30% chance with cloud bases around 600metres. Cloud bases soon lowering and becoming extensive around 4-600m so 10% chance or less later in the day.
Visibility
Moderate or good soon becoming poor or very poor in the afternoon even at low level.
Meteorologist's view
Nothing to add.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Rain becoming quite heavy on Sunday morning but soon clearing east with cloud beginning to lift and break and one or two sunny spells possible. The odd shower is also possible in the afternoon.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 700m
During the morning 30% chance of cloud free tops with extensive cloud based 500-700m, cloud base rising in the afternoon and some breaks in the lower cloud will appear. 70% chance of cloud free tops in the south later.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwesterly 30mph gusts 40-45mph.
Temperature
- At 700m Plus 8 Celsius.
- Valley Plus 10 rising to plus 14 Celsius.
- Freezing level Above the summits.
Visibility
Generally poor or very poor in the morning in rain becoming good or very good at times in the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Monday 27 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A showery day with some brighter spells, however showers may become quite frequent at times. Freezing level remaining above the summits. Moderate westerly winds.
Tuesday 28 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining showery with sunny spells. Fresh or strong northwesterly winds.
Wednesday 29 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Staying showery with some brighter spells, feeling cool in the fresh gusty northerly winds.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast map
Summit specific forecasts for Mourne MountainsThe 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.
The Mourne Mountains include the highest mountains in Northern Ireland; the highest of these is Slieve Donard standing at 850 metres at the northeastern edge of the Mournes, overlooking Newcastle and Dundrum Bay. At the summit of Slieve Donard there is a cairn and a small stone tower, which is part of the Mourne Wall, which passes over the mountain’s southern and western shoulders.
The Mourne Wall is a 35 kilometre dry stone wall that crosses fifteen summits, constructed between 1904 and 1922 by the Belfast Water Commissioners to define and enclose the catchment area for the newly constructed Silent Valley Reservoir.v