[Andy Mayhew]

Mountain Forecast – Issued Thursday 8th September 2011

Very unsettled with rain and strong winds in all parts

General Situation:
Low pressure to the west of the British Isles keeping all parts under a strong southwesterly airflow. Low cloud and frequent rain with strong winds. As the weekend progresses this low will fill and move away northwards but is due to be replaced by the remnants of Hurricane Katia - this currently looks like moving just northwest of Scotland through Monday, although it's exact track remains uncertain. Daytime temperatures not far off normal on Saturday, but a bit cooler on Sunday. Nights will be mild.

Further rain and very strong winds are expected on Monday with storm force winds most likely affecting the Hebrides and some northwestern parts of the Highlands in particular, though the forecast should be monitored through the course of the weekend as a slightly more southerly track is also possible, bringing the strongest winds across central parts of Scotland.


The Weekend in Detail:

Saturday 10th September - a wet and windy day across all parts as a cold front scoots across the country from the west, with rain then turning more showery in the afternoon. Summits obscured. Gales over all higher summits with perhaps severe gales at times.

Sunday 11th September - looks like we could see some more heavy rain move in from the west through the morning, especially across the SW Moors and South Wales but quite possibly affecting further north into Snowdonia and the southern Pennines as well - this clearing away eastwards with showers following by afternoon. Elsewhere another days of blustery showers, with the best chance of any breaks in the cloud being to the east, though it looks like most summits will again remain shrouded in cloud. Showers heaviest, with a risk of thunder, down through the West Highlands. Strong winds at all levels, perhaps severe gales over higher summits in the Highlands, particular Argyll and Lochaber.

Further Outlook:
More rain affecting all parts on Monday but the main feature may well be the winds with currently the Hebrides most at risk of storm force winds with gales across all northern parts, severe around coasts especially across northern Ireland and the north and west of Scotland and later the Northern Isles. Continuing unsettled through the week, with more rain or showers especially on Tuesday and Wednesday but becoming less frequent thereafter. We could well see winds turn more northerly by next week as high pressure builds to our west; it's unlikely at this stage that temperatures will fall enough for snow although some wintriness is possible over the higher Cairngorm and Lochaber summits.


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 12.12 GMT – 8th September 2011

Forecast by Andy Mayhew for Ukww

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