[Andy Mayhew]

Mountain Forecast – Issued Thursday 19th April 2012

Continuing unsettled with widespread heavy showers

General Situation:

Slack low pressure sits over Britain through the weekend, with slow moving troughs moving around it bring bands of heavy, sometimes thundery, showers to all parts - perhaps more persistent across the Highlands. On Monday a more vigorous depression moves in off the Atlantic with a spell of more general rain and stronger winds sweeping in from the west; low pressure then persisting over Britain for next week so remaining unsettled with further showers for all parts.


The Weekend in Detail:

Saturday 21st April - showery from the start across the Highlands, especially the Cairngorms, but other parts should be fairly bright first thing although patchy mist and fog likely in some valleys, particualrly in northern England. However showers soon developing and affecting all upland areas throughout the day, heaviest in the afternoon with some hail and maybe thunder and only occasional glimpses of the sun between times. Many higher summits likley to be obscured for much of the day. Snow likely above 1,800ft in Scotland and around 2,500ft in the Lake District, North Pennines and Snowdonia. Some moderate accumulations likely in the Highlands, especially the Cairngorms - good for the ski centres! Light to moderate winds for the most part, though it could be quite gusty in showers and over summits.

Sunday 22nd April - a similar sort of day, starting dry and bright in many areas with some mist and fog patches, but showers soon developing and affecting all parts through the day, once again with hail and a risk of thunder and snow over higher summits. Winds mostly light though could still be gusty in showers. Probably a few more brighter spells between showers than on Saturday though with a better change of most summits being clear for at least some of the time.

Further Outlook:

Rain spreading from the west across all parts on Monday accompanied by strong winds and gales over hills. Low pressure then setting up home once more over Britain to give another fairly cool week with widespread showers and occasionally longer spells of rain for all parts, with strong winds and gales at times. Some snow over higher sumkmits in the Highlands. Little change into next weekend and, indeed, for the following week with at this stage the start of May looking to be similarly unsettled.


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 12.10 BST – 19th April 2012

Forecast by Andy Mayhew for Ukww

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[PK2]

Already lying snow in Snowdonia possibly at 1800ft according to Llansadrn Weather this morning. I'd have guessed by this afternoon it was a little higher (700m ish) but I only glanced at it.

[Andy Mayhew]

That's useful to hear I supposed this time of year - and given recent weather - some of it could well be hail.

I remember in March 1989 that in the NW Highlands most of the 'snow cover' was actually hail. Some of the drifts were quite deep.

(btw if you've never experienced a horizontal hailstorm at 2500ft then ......... you're lucky!)

[JOKE_SNOW]

Thanks for the update. I got 2 hiking dates planned for next week involving the Kinder 80 (celebration of the mass trespass) to a medium-distance footpath by next weekend. Looks like neither are going to be dry to be walking in, but personally I would take a centered low pressure than a slack low with intermittent thundery showers, especially given the exposure on plateau moorland.
Hopefully there'll be a bit of a respite by the end of next week for a day or two and sparing me the luxury of being rain-sodden and having to endure a overnight camp in the same conditions.

[PK2]

Andy Mayhew, on 20 April 2012 - 17:38, said:

That's useful to hear I supposed this time of year - and given recent weather - some of it could well be hail.

I remember in March 1989 that in the NW Highlands most of the 'snow cover' was actually hail. Some of the drifts were quite deep.

(btw if you've never experienced a horizontal hailstorm at 2500ft then ......... you're lucky!)

It could be. Possibly there's a bit of both, like near Cadair Idris (IIRC) a few days ago. This morning on the way to work the temp dropped to +3C in the heaviest rain, around Bangor (ie nr sea level). So I'd imagine snow might well have been possible higher up in heavier downbursts etc.

[Flatlander]

Looks like being an interesting day on the Cairngorms tomorrow...

A very weird winter this one - no snow left at the end of March - but now....there's plenty!

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