[Andy Mayhew]

Mountain Forecast – Issued Thursday 1st March 2012

Unsettled, turning colder - some snow on hills

General Situation:

Initially high pressure to the east and low centred near Iceland with a still fairly mild southerly airflow. Fronts pushing east on Saturday followed by colder air from the NW. A small area of low pressure developing in the SW passing eastwards through the Channel on Sunday bringing some wet and windy weather to southern parts. Temperatures initially around normal but turning colder from the north later on Saturday and through Sunday with a risk of overnight frosts.

The Weekend in Detail:

Saturday 3rd March - All parts look likely to start fairly cloudy with hill fog in places. Rain - heavy at times - pushing east across the West Highlands in the morning and into the Cairngorms by afternoon. This falling as snow mainly above 3,000ft. Rain also pushing east across the Lake District and Pennines through the afternoon. Wales likely to see more patchy and lighter rain, though perhaps still heavy at times over Snowdonia. The SW Moors probably staying mostly dry, though still a risk of hill fog. Strong southerly winds with gales over summits, possibly severe in the Highlands. Easing and turning westerly later. Cooler conditions arriving in Scotland behind the rain through the afternoon, with a few showers, these mainly of snow over hills and perhaps even to lower levels though it's unlikely anything will settle below 1500ft.

Sunday 4th March - further scattered wintry showers across the Highlands and southern Scotland but bright spells in between, especially in the east. Winds lighter and mainly westerly, though feeling cold. After a frosty start in places, most of England and Wales quickly clouding over with rain pushing in from the west through the morning - some of it heavy and possibly even thundery - with strong, gusty winds, swinging northeast through the day. Extensive hill fog. Some sleet or snow over higher summits, chiefly above 2,000ft but perhaps to lower levels across northern England - particularly around the Peak District - and Snowdonia. These conditions look likely to persist through to evening in most parts, though becoming dry overnight. Lake District and Yorkshire Dales should see rain (snow over summits) lighter and more patchy with the North Pennines and Cheviots best places to miss out and see a dry though perhaps cloudy day.

Further Outlook:

A ridge of high pressure bringing brighter conditions on Monday, though still a risk of the odd wintry shower in the North and West Highlands. Becoming more unsettled thereafter with low pressure off Iceland and high pressure to the south or southwest and a west or northwesterly airflow pushing bands of rain eastwards across all parts. This falling as snow over higher summits in the HIghlands at times. Continuing unsettled, fairly windy, with further rain to all parts and temperatures close to normal through next weekend. Always windiest and wettest in the north with further snow over higher summits at times. Typical March weather.


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.

Avalanche news for the Highlands is provided by SAIS


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 11.30 GMT – 1st March 2012

Forecast by Andy Mayhew for Ukww

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