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
How El Niño impacts us worldwide. What actually is it?. . . Tuesday 15 September 2026
teaser
Tuesday 15 September 2026

What actually is it?

How El Niño impacts us worldwide
Huge low-pressure system off Iceland. Impacting the UK & Ireland. . . Wednesday 16 September 2026
WeatherRadar showing a large low-pressure system over the North Atlantic between Greenland and Iceland.
Wednesday 16 September 2026

Impacting the UK & Ireland

Huge low-pressure system off Iceland
Severe weather in the Mediterranean. Is a medicane on the way?. . . Monday 14 September 2026
A weather map shows a powerful low-pressure system over the Mediterranean, with warning symbols for storms and heavy rain.
Monday 14 September 2026

Is a medicane on the way?

Severe weather in the Mediterranean
All weather news
This might also interest you
A stormy week in the skies above. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 30 August 2026
Split image showing lightning branching beneath dark storm clouds above rooftops on the left and an orange-pink sunset over a calm sea on the right.
Sunday 30 August 2026

Your weather - Your shots

A stormy week in the skies above
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
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