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
Damp Thursday as rain moves through. Raincoat needed. . . Thursday 11 June 2026
Satellite weather map of the UK and Ireland on Thursday 11.06 showing a broad band of rain moving east-northeast across Britain, with a rain cloud icon, directional arrow, and temperatures around 11–15°C.
Thursday 11 June 2026

Raincoat needed

Damp Thursday as rain moves through
Tropical storm hits Mexico. Ahead of the World Cup. . . Monday 8 June 2026
A small weather map showing satellite imagery and precipitation over Europe. A red warning triangle with an exclamation mark is displayed in the bottom left-hand corner. The map shows numerous blue, yellow and orange weather symbols indicating active precipitation or areas of thunderstorms. The graphic conveys a general weather or severe weather warning.
Monday 8 June 2026

Ahead of the World Cup

Tropical storm hits Mexico
The second warmest May on record. Early heatwave in Europe. . . Wednesday 10 June 2026
Split image showing a European temperature anomaly map with widespread warmer-than-average conditions on the left and a poerson cooling off beside a fountain near the Eiffel Tower during hot weather on the right.
Wednesday 10 June 2026

Early heatwave in Europe

The second warmest May on record
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
Happy New Year. Hello 2026. . . Wednesday 31 December 2025
Illustration of white and yellow fireworks on a blue background.
Wednesday 31 December 2025

Hello 2026

Happy New Year
A frozen start to the weekend. Icy conditions. . . Friday 13 February 2026
UK temperature map dated 14.02 showing widespread subzero values in blue shading, with readings such as −4 in Glasgow, −3 in Dublin, and −2 in London, alongside a blue thermometer icon.
Friday 13 February 2026

Icy conditions

A frozen start to the weekend
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