Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for Friday. High for changeable conditions to continue into next week but low for detail on Monday.
This evening forecast
Occasional showers, wintry on the tops.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Windy with rain at times.
| 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% | 20% | 40% | 40% | 40% | 60% | 70% | 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 |
SW
34
|
SW
41
|
SW
45
|
SW
45
|
SW
44
|
SW
45
|
SW
45
|
SW
46
|
| 300m |
SW
19
|
SW
24
|
SW
27
|
SW
28
|
SW
27
|
SW
29
|
SW
29
|
SW
30
|
| Valley |
SW
14
|
SW
20
|
SW
21
|
SW
22
|
SW
22
|
SW
23
|
SW
23
|
SW
23
|
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 | 47 | 57 | 62 | 63 | 62 | 64 | 63 | 65 |
| 300m | 32 | 41 | 46 | 47 | 46 | 48 | 48 | 50 |
| Valley | 30 | 39 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 44 | 46 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
| Freezing Level |
600m
|
800m
|
1,000m
|
1,300m
|
1,800m
|
2,000m
|
2,000m
|
1,600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-9°
|
-8°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
Additional weather information
Weather
An overcast day and very windy day with extensive low cloud. Some light rain or drizzle is expected through the day too, this mainly across western facing slopes. Drier and clearer weather will spread from the northwest through the evening with the odd shower.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 700m
Nil during daylight hours with extensive low cloud between 500 and 700 metres. Low cloud breaking in the evening.
Visibility
Poor in any rain especially western facing slopes, otherwise often good.
Meteorologist's view
Strong winds at all elevations will make for slow progress, as well as notable wind chill. Gusts to 75 mph possible on the very highest tops.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Cold and very windy with occasional snow showers, but some reasonable spells of drier and brighter weather. Snow showers easing in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 700m
80%. Cloud briefly lowering to 600 metres as snow showers run by
Maximum wind speed expected
Gusty westerly winds of 50 to 60 mph on the summits
Temperature
- At 700m Minus 1 Celsius
- Valley Zero rising to 7 Celsius
- Freezing level 600 metres
Visibility
Outside of showers very good visibility, but dropping quickly in snow.
Mountain weather information
Sunday 23 February
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with some brightness, light winds. Freezing level 700 metres
Monday 24 February
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Very windy with early rain, then occasional snow showers. Freezing level rising above summits, falling back to 600 metres
Tuesday 25 February
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cold and windy with wintry showers, freezing level 600 metres.
Updated at:
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.
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