Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a changeable week, lower for timing of showers on Tuesday, and cloud on Wednesday. High for a better day on Thursday.
This evening forecast
Cloudy with further prolonged and at times heavy rain. Hill fog and strong to gale southerly winds.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
A dry bright start then heavy showers developing along with severe gales.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 700m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 700m) |
80% | 80% | 10% | 10% | 70% | 50% | 20% | 20% |
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 |
SE
33
|
S
36
|
S
27
|
S
37
|
S
44
|
S
42
|
S
40
|
SW
35
|
| 300m |
SE
16
|
S
19
|
S
13
|
S
20
|
S
25
|
S
24
|
S
23
|
SW
20
|
| Valley |
SE
13
|
S
17
|
S
10
|
S
18
|
S
22
|
S
20
|
S
19
|
SW
17
|
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 | 46 | 50 | 37 | 52 | 62 | 58 | 57 | 50 |
| 300m | 29 | 34 | 24 | 36 | 43 | 41 | 40 | 35 |
| Valley | 29 | 33 | 22 | 34 | 42 | 39 | 37 | 33 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
8°
|
| 300m |
10°
|
11°
|
10°
|
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
10°
|
| Valley |
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
12°
|
12°
|
12°
|
12°
|
11°
|
| Freezing Level |
2,100m
|
2,200m
|
1,700m
|
1,900m
|
2,000m
|
2,000m
|
2,000m
|
2,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
7°
|
7°
|
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Summit gusts may touch 70mph and there could even be gales to low levels for a time.
Weather
Further rain and hill fog in the early hours, this clearing later in the night. Some early sunny intervals in the morning though some summit cloud probable then cloud thickening to bring some heavy showers from late morning. These possibly prolonged in the first half of the afternoon then more occasional with the chance of some cloud breaks again.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 700m
30% with occasional but unreliable clearances.
Visibility
Away from cloud, mainly good at first but falling moderate or poor in the more prolonged showers.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Mostly cloudy with a little patchy rain but mostly dry. A few bright or sunny intervals.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 700m
30%, again cloud bases low enough to affect the higher tops.
Maximum wind speed expected
Northwesterly 25 gusts 35mph.
Temperature
- At 700m Plus 6 Celsius falling to Plus 4.
- Valley Plus 12 Celsius
- Freezing level Above the summits.
Visibility
Mainly good away from cloud but occasionally moderate in light rain or drizzle.
Mountain weather information
Thursday 22 October
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A fine dry day with plenty of sunshine. Moderate northwest breeze becoming southwesterly later.
Friday 23 October
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Some rain before dawn then the day bright with sunny intervals and perhaps one or two showers. Fresh to strong southwesterly winds easing.
Saturday 24 October
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with spells of rain and gale to severe gale south to southwest winds.
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