Mountain weather

Mourne Mountains

Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for changeable conditions next few days, lower for timing and intensity of rain bands

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard 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.
hazard 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.

hazard 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.
hazard 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.
hazard 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 very mixed day with bands of rain and some drier brighter spells, Windy with summit gales possible.

06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 700m)
Heavy rain Heavy rain Light shower (day) Heavy rain Heavy rain Fog
Chance of precipitation
(at 700m)
40% 70% 20% 60% 80% 20%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m SW
20
S
25
SW
27
SW
29
S
23
NW
23
300m SW
5
SE
10
SW
14
SW
12
S
12
NW
13
Valley S
2
SE
8
SW
12
SW
10
S
10
NW
11
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m 29 35 38 40 33 32
300m 14 21 25 24 23 23
Valley 13 20 25 24 21 23

Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
300m
Valley
Freezing Level
1,000m
1,300m
1,200m
1,200m
1,300m
1,300m

Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
-2°
-3°
-1°
-1°
-2°
-2°
300m
Valley

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

Winds may reach gusts of around 50 mph across summits around middle of the day.

Weather

Heavy rain, perhaps sleet on the tops clearing by late morning with sunny spells for a time. A chance of isolated heavy showers early afternoon. More persistent often heavy rain towards dusk. Turning dry late evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

20% from dawn improving 80% by midday then falling 20% by dusk.

Low cloud and visibility

Spells of low cloud and poor visibility accompanying the rainy spells in the morning and evening, with cloud down to 450-600m, but at other times, low cloud breaking up with good visibility for a few hours in the afternoon.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

A few showers in early hours, dying out. The day dry and bright with some sunny spells. Clouding over after dark with some heavy rain developing by mid evening.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

60% early hours improving 90% during the day, falling 20% in the evening rain.

Maximum wind speed expected

West 30 gusts 40mph in early hours then easing 15 gusts 25mph by daybreak. Winds becoming southeasterly in evening.

Temperature

  • At 700m Plus 3 Celsius.
  • Valley Plus 5 rising to Plus 8 Celsius.
  • Freezing level Above the summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Occasional cloud at 600m at first this dispersing to bring good visibility through daylight hours. Then low cloud at 450-600m and poor visibility developing in evening rain.

Mountain weather information

Tue 12 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Cloudy with occasional rain, hill fog and strengthening northeasterly winds.

Wed 13 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Dry and bright with sunny spells, freezing level dropping to 750m.

Thu 14 Dec

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Some overnight rain, then the day bright with sunny intervals and the odd light shower. Freezing levels above tops.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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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