A mountain weather presentation for many outdoor sessions. Used as the basis for mountain leader training, introduction for young people and paddlesport coaching.

1. Where to find the weather forecast?

2. Where to find the weather?
Radio
TV
Telephone – Weatherline (lake District -0844 846 2444)
Shopfronts & mountain visitor centres
– Outdoor shop front in Killin has the weather forecast
– Most Cotswold Outdoors also
Websites
– MWIS.org.uk
– Metoffice.com
– Metcheck.com
– Mountaindays.net

3. What’s the outlook then???
Weather Symbols Wind Direction and Speed Maximum Temperatures

4. Synoptic Chart – what a mess!!

5. Because of the
Counting the
Wind
direction, you Synoptic Chart Isobars and
multiplying by 4
can tell which
Air mass is to learn the wind
approaching. speed.
The wind direction L
is moving from a
High Pressure area
to a Low pressure
area, parallel to the
isobars.
H
Pressure
& Therefore the
precipitation

6. Air masses + Fronts
Warm front: Occluded Front:
•cloudy sky
Air masses (UK): •Wisspy clouds near top
•Cold front moves
faster so soon
•Drizzly rain before clear sky
Oceans –> wet catches up to
warm front
Cold front: •Wind and rain
Land –> Dry •Blusstery showers + heavy rain gradually decrease
•Strong winds/change in direction marking the end of
North –> Cold •Gets colder the storm.
South –> Warm

7. Tomorrow’s synoptic chart (MetOffice.gov.uk) – What can we tell from this then?

8. Mountain Specific Weather
Temperature in relation to height gain:
Every 200m gained -2˚C up to 800m
Followed by -1˚C every 200m
Pockets of air rising causing localised rain (Relief
Rainfall)
Rain shadow on the lea-side of mountains, often
most inland side.
Narrow gaps give increased wind speed