Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Weather News /

    Mountain wave clouds in the UK

15:13
22 August 2024

On the WeatherRadar
Mountain wave clouds in the UK

Southwesterly winds are creating striking mountain wave clouds in parts of northern England and southern Scotland on Thursday.

When stripes of clouds showing up on the WeatherRadar across parts of the UK and Ireland, look at the wind.

The cloud lines are at right angles to the wind direction and appear upon hitting mountainous, or hilly, areas. These are known as mountain waves.

Mountain waves are a type of lee wave, otherwise known as standing, stationary waves.
Mountain waves are a type of lee wave, otherwise known as standing, stationary waves.

As the air moves over the elevated area, it is forced upwards. When it hits the inversion it subsides, though as it is stable air, it tries to return to its original level, producing an ongoing oscillation.

Every time the air rises, it cools and forms a cloud that sits at each crest of the wave. On the WeatherRadar, you can see all the ripples flowing over the mountains, continuing eastwards.

Have you seen any near you? If so, send us a picture, we would love to see them. Upload yours here!

Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
Heat becoming a bigger factor in drought. New study. . . Thursday 23 July 2026
A hand holds dry, dusty earth above a parched field. The ground is cracked and covered with plant debris – a sign of prolonged drought.
Thursday 23 July 2026

New study

Heat becoming a bigger factor in drought
Rain returns to end dry spell in places. Jet stream delivery. . . Thursday 23 July 2026
Split weather graphic showing widespread showers across the UK and Ireland on the left, and a wind forecast map on the right with a windsock icon and gusts of 25 to 35 mph, highlighting breezy conditions across the two countries.
Thursday 23 July 2026

Jet stream delivery

Rain returns to end dry spell in places
New heatwave in southern Europe. Up to 45 degrees in Spain. . . Tuesday 21 July 2026
Split temperature map showing extreme heat across Spain on the left and Greece on the right, with temperatures reaching 44°C near Murcia, around 40°C in parts of Greece, and a large thermometer icon highlighting dangerous heat.
Tuesday 21 July 2026

Up to 45 degrees in Spain

New heatwave in southern Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday 23 April 2026
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList