Mountain weather
Mourne Mountains Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High generally, but lower for timing of rainy conditions on Thursday morning.
This evening forecast
Sunny intervals and isolated showers, the showers dying out by dusk. Freshening westerly wind.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.
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
A dull start with occasional rain and hill fog then brighter in the afternoon with the odd shower. Windy.
| 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% | 50% | 70% | 30% | 30% | 10% | <05% | <05% |
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
21
|
SW
25
|
SW
25
|
W
28
|
W
29
|
W
30
|
W
26
|
W
19
|
| 300m |
SW
10
|
SW
14
|
SW
14
|
W
17
|
W
18
|
W
19
|
W
17
|
W
11
|
| Valley |
SW
9
|
SW
12
|
SW
11
|
W
14
|
W
16
|
W
17
|
W
15
|
W
8
|
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 | 29 | 36 | 35 | 40 | 44 | 45 | 40 | 28 |
| 300m | 19 | 26 | 25 | 30 | 33 | 35 | 31 | 20 |
| Valley | 19 | 25 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 19 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
10°
|
10°
|
8°
|
7°
|
| 300m |
8°
|
8°
|
9°
|
10°
|
13°
|
13°
|
11°
|
9°
|
| Valley |
10°
|
9°
|
10°
|
12°
|
14°
|
14°
|
12°
|
10°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,500m
|
1,800m
|
2,000m
|
1,700m
|
1,600m
|
1,500m
|
1,400m
|
1,400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 00:00 | 03:00 | 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
3°
|
5°
|
5°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
9°
|
9°
|
8°
|
6°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
6°
|
7°
|
9°
|
11°
|
11°
|
9°
|
8°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Improving after a dull start on Wednesday with a repeat performance likely on Thursday.
Weather
A dry start to the early hours, but soon clouding over with occasional light rain and some hill fog. This rain lasting into the mid morning period before brightening up to sunshine and the odd shower, even these dying out by mid afternoon. A dry evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
70% at midnight falling 10% before dawn, improving 70% by late morning and over 90% in the afternoon and evening.
Low cloud and visibility
Cloud becoming extensive overnight at 400-700m and reduced visibility in rain below the cloud. Then cloud lifting back to 750m by mid morning and then breaking and lifting off tops, with generally good visibility for the rest of the day.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Dry at first the early hours, then clouding over with patchy rain developing before dawn. The rain probably lasting into the mid to late morning period and accompanied by hill fog. Then becoming drier by midday the cloud lifting and breaking in the afternoon to bring some sunny spells. A dry clear evening. Some slight uncertainties regarding the timing of the improvement which could be a couple of hours faster or slower.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
10% in morning rising 90% by afternoon.
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly 30 gusts 40mph.
Temperature
- At 700m Plus 7 Celsius
- Valley 10 Celsius rising to 16 Celsius in the afternoon
- Freezing level Above the summits
Low cloud and visibility
Patchy cloud above 750m in early hours becoming extensive at 400-700m before dawn, and reduced visibility in rain below the cloud. Then lifting back to 750m by late morning and then breaking and lifting off tops, with generally very good visibility for the rest of the day
Mountain weather information
Fri 27 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry broken cloud and some sunny spells. Good visibility. Fresh to strong northwesterly winds on the tops, and freezing level above the summits.
Sat 28 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry with bright or sunny spells. Lighter northwest breeze.
Sun 29 May
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Remaining dry and bright with mostly light northerly breeze.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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Key
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