Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

General => Meets, places, trips and reviews => Topic started by: whoRya on May 06, 2018

Title: The only way is up!
Post by: whoRya on May 06, 2018
Having spent the weekend based down in the Mournes I observed the most strange weather system.  Whilst most of NI bathed in unbroken sunshine and blue skies the south Down coastline had a sea mist/cloud inversion weather event that cast cloud over the area for much of the time.  Up in the mountains above it really was delightful.

Starting on Saturday in Dundrum it seemed like it was set to be a terribly dull day, as Newcastle drew near the cloud began to break.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/980/28066551148_a0610b2440_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JL9pQh)

The view from Shan Slieve shows the contrast.  There was a layer of high level cloud and then a lower level that gave impression of snow covered peaks hemming in Newcastle.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/977/41893571032_e819451856_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26PZv7Q)

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/903/28066559518_ab30a26e66_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/JL9sjA)

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/831/41893588292_6ab39583ab_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26PZAfq)

Today (Sunday) the cloud was more extensive again and there was no high cloud level at all.  The contrast was very dramatic.

Looking across from Butter Mountain
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/978/41893593762_b839fe40f3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26PZBSJ)

The view over Spelga Reservoir
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/953/41893600812_9847fa71e9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26PZDYh)

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/973/40130788010_5efca6e04d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/249dM97)

This did make me laugh.  Clearly this area of Newcastle failed to live up to one person's hopes and expectations.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/946/41893591742_07d4b7ec3c_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26PZBgU)

 
Title: Re: The only way is up!
Post by: Rugged Track on May 07, 2018
Great photos.  Yes the weather was strange.  The fog never lifted and the Strangford ferry was off all day until around 20.50.  I was meant to leave this this afternoon for a summit camp on Doan tonight but abandoned it because of the fog.  Reports from Newcastle was fog.  Although I had to drop my son in Newcastle tonight around 9.30pm and it was totally clear, I was raging.  It was a beautiful night. 
Title: Re: The only way is up!
Post by: specimanYak on May 07, 2018
The cloud inversion looks fantastic, it's always a sight to behold, Great photos and a good day out.
Title: Re: The only way is up!
Post by: whoRya on May 08, 2018
That's a bummer RT.  I'd have been raging too. 

Had to remove a tick from myself today.  Be warned the wee gits are out there.  Mind you I do seem to have a knack of attracting them.
Title: Re: The only way is up!
Post by: seanbranagh on May 10, 2018
Cracker photos.

I have seen that fog coming off the sea before. Sometimes it comes a little inland covering Newcastle etc. but the rest of the country is clear.
I think it is when the air temperature and humidity rises quite quickly but the sea temperature is still very cold so it causes the moisture to condense right on the sea.
It does make for fantastic views from the peaks though.