Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High confidence for continued wintery weather on Thursday and becoming more settled after this.
This evening forecast
A few snow showers this evening with strong northwesterly 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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Outbreaks of snow during the day, westerly gales or severe gales and a significant wind chill.
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 700m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 700m) |
10% | 10% | 20% | 30% | 30% | 30% | 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 |
NW
33
|
W
33
|
W
34
|
W
35
|
NW
30
|
NW
32
|
NW
33
|
NW
33
|
| 300m |
NW
18
|
W
18
|
W
19
|
W
19
|
NW
18
|
NW
19
|
NW
19
|
NW
19
|
| Valley |
NW
15
|
W
14
|
W
15
|
W
16
|
NW
15
|
NW
15
|
NW
14
|
NW
15
|
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 | 45 | 45 | 47 | 48 | 42 | 44 | 46 | 46 |
| 300m | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Valley | 30 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Freezing Level |
300m
|
300m
|
300m
|
400m
|
400m
|
500m
|
400m
|
300m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-11°
|
-11°
|
-11°
|
-10°
|
-10°
|
-8°
|
-10°
|
-11°
|
| 300m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-6°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| Valley |
-4°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
-4°
|
-2°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Gale or severe gale force gusts on the summits in the morning with a severe wind chill likely.
Weather
A few sleet and snow showers will continue overnight but will become less frequent by dawn with a few drier periods. Blustery wintery showers during the day but a few brighter spells too. Gales or severe gales will make it feel bitterly cold on the hills. Mainly dry by early evening with a few clearer spells developing.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 700m
60-70% scattered cloud will fall below the summits at times.
Visibility
Generally poor visibility in wintery showers, visibility will be good outwith showers in the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Weather
A mixture of sunshine and blustery wintery showers and feeling very cold.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 700m
60-70% still some low cloud associated with showers.
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly 20-25mph with gusts 30-35mph.
Temperature
- At 700m Minus 2 Celsius.
- Valley Zero rising to plus 4 Celsius.
- Freezing level 300m
Visibility
Although the main cloud bases will be above the summits there will be scattered cloud falling below the tops to a base around 600m at times. Visibility may become poor or very poor in any heavier wintery showers.
Mountain weather information
Saturday 23 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with sunny intervals and fresh northwesterly winds. Freezing level around 200m.
Sunday 24 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Another pleasant winters day with some long sunny intervals, although there is the risk of a few wintery showers. Fresh westerly winds. Freezing level around 400m
Monday 25 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A dry day with lots of winter sunshine and very light westerly winds, still feeling cold.
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