Mountain Forecast –
Issued Thursday 4th February 2010
Cloudy, becoming mostly dry
General Outlook:
The weather takes a bit of a breather this weekend, before the next
spell of wintry stuff arrives .... An area of low pressure moves east across the south of England on Saturday, with
a front bringing rain and low cloud to southern parts for a time, whilst a front across Scotland will produce some patchy
light snow and sleet in the Highlands. Both fronts should die off later on Saturday. In between, North Wales,
Northern England, the Southern Uplands and Northern Ireland look likely to be dry throughout with probably the best chance
of some sunshine in the west. Not especially warm but certainly not as cold as it's been of late. High pressure
building to the north early next week looks set to introduce colder air and some snow from the east as winter returns.
Likely to be another busy weekend at all ski resorts with no access problems expected
The weekend
in Detail:
Saturday 6th February:
Low pressure moving east across southern
counties of England will bring rain and low cloud to the SW Moors and South Wales, especially first thing - rain tending to
die out from the west through the morning. Rather windy with gales over summits. A front across northern Scotland
also bringing some patchy precipitation - mainly sleet or snow, especially above 1,500ft - with cloud levels below summits.
This too dying out through the day, especially across western parts. All other upland areas - N Wales, N England, S
Scotland and N Ireland in for a relatively quiet day, though rather cloudy with most higher summits likely to be obscured.
Snowdonia and the Lake District looking best for clearer summits at times and maybe some sunshine. Strong, mostly southerly,
winds over summits easing through the afternoon and tending to become light and variable at lower levels. Temperature
mostly close to average for February.
Sunday 7th February:
Low pressure to the west
looks unlikely to make much progress eastwards, but may bring some thicker cloud and rain to southwestern parts of Ireland
and maybe Cornwall. Otherwise a quiet day across all parts. Frosty in places to start and temperatures down on
Saturday, so feeling rather cold, especially where under leaden skies. Still the occasional sleet or snow possible in
the Eastern Highlands, but otherwise dry but mostly cloudy. Although some breaks possible in western parts at times
cloud base generally around 2,500ft with also some low mist and fog patches lingering in places. Winds tending to be
moderate and variable in direction, though still strong southerly in the far west, especially over Ireland.
Further Outlook:
Model output has been very varied of late, but the pattern now emerging is for high
pressure to build to the north of Britain, and perhaps ridge down over the country. This blocking the eastwards progress
of any Atlantic depressions. Colder air off the Continent likely to push in through the week and with it always the
risk of some snow, especially towards eastern coasts. Likely to be quite frosty at night and through the day temperatures
once again below average, though pleasant where sunny (this more likely the further west you are - so much of Wales for example
should see a good week). Risk of snow showers increases through the week, especially over the northern half of the country
and some further accumulations likely over most hills.
Avalanche forecasts
for the North Cairngorms, South Cairngorms, Lochaber, Creag Meagaidh and Glencoe are now available from SAIS
For the latest daily weather update covering most upland regions of Britain, more please
visit The Mountain Weather Information Service website provided by Geoff Monk.
Met Office Mountain Forecasts are also available for the Highlands, Lake District, Peak District and Wales.
Note: this is
a personal interpretation of likely weather conditions on the UK hills and is intended for general guidance purposes only.
Local conditions may vary and changes may occur suddenly and without warning. Extreme caution should always be exercised when
venturing into the hills
TOI 10.30 GMT – 4th February 2010
Forecast by Andy Mayhew
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