Mountain weather
Peak District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a rather cloudy and cold day Sunday and becoming very unsettled through next week but much lower for details and timing of rain and snow and strongest winds due to uncertainties over the track of a series of low pressure systems expected to pass over or close to the UK.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Poor visibility
Poor visibility presents challenging route finding conditions. Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references, especially on featureless moors or plateaux. Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.
Severe chill effect
Wind significantly lowers the ‘feels-like’ temperature relative to the actual temperature, with even moderate winds significantly adding to the chilling effect. Strong winds can result in a severe and debilitating wind chill many degrees below the actual temperature. This effect will be enhanced in rain or wet snow. Without protection, prolonged exposure could result in frost nip or frostbite on exposed parts of the body and/or hypothermia.
Mountain weather forecast
Cold with early rain or snow clearing. Generally fine, but cloudy with showers possible later.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
20% | 30% | 20% | 20% | 10% | <05% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
N
27
|
N
23
|
N
16
|
N
14
|
NE
9
|
NE
5
|
| 300m |
NW
18
|
NW
12
|
N
12
|
NW
8
|
NW
5
|
SW
3
|
| Valley |
NW
12
|
N
11
|
N
9
|
N
6
|
N
2
|
E
2
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 34 | 31 | 22 | 19 | 13 | 8 |
| 300m | 24 | 18 | 18 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| Valley | 27 | 25 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 3 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
2°
|
4°
|
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Freezing Level |
500m
|
600m
|
900m
|
900m
|
900m
|
800m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-8°
|
-7°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
-2°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
3°
|
2°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
A cloudy and cold day. Feeling especially cold at first, with the brisk winds giving a notable chill.
Weather
Any early rain or light snow clearing south, with snow generally limited to above 400m. A fine day follows, with cloud breaking across western hills, but cloudier in the east with a chance of one or two further showers.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
30%, best chances in the west.
Visibility
Periods of cloud obscuring views above 500m throughout the day, and potentially down to 400m across eastern hills where cloud could be persistent. Beneath cloud, generally good to very good views, but falling to moderate during any showers.
Recent rainfall
Location: Cat & Fiddle (Midway between Buxton and Macclesfield)
Altitude: 511m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 14.4mm | 16mm | 16.2mm |
Measurement date:
Rainfall data provided by the Environment Agency. The Met Office is not responsible for content provided by third parties and may remove this data without warning.
Mountain weather information
Weather
Deterioration in conditions is expected through the morning, as bands of rain and snow through. Snow line rising above highest summits with first band, before rapidly falling again as a heavy and squally band of rain and snow follows late morning. This later band bringing brief blizzard conditions above 600m, before clearing. Occasional showers then follow, with snow falling to 400m, but interspersed with drier brighter spells. Feeling cold, with a notable wind chill.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
Near 0%, at first, improving to 60% during the afternoon
Maximum wind speed expected
Southerly 20-25 gusting 30-35mph, briefly 40-50mph, then veering westerly 25mph gusting 35-40mph.
Temperature
- At 600m Zero Celsius, rising to Plus 2 Celsius then falling to Zero Celsius after midday.
- Valley Plus 2 Celsius rising to Plus 5 Celsius
- Freezing level 600m, then rising above the summits mid-morning, falling 600m during the afternoon.
Visibility
Cloud obscuring views above 400m at first, and only moderate to poor at low levels due to rain. Transient blizzard conditions possible above 400m in showers, with cloud obscuring views above 600m. Strong winds likely moving showers through however. Some very good to excellent views between showers.
Mountain weather information
Tuesday 7 December
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Early rain and snow clearing northeast. Upland gales for a time. Showers following, snow on summits, with blizzard conditions possible. Freezing levels 600m, perhaps above summits for a time.
Wednesday 8 December
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers or longer spells of rain and snow. Details are low confidence, but winds likely easing a little, although staying cold. Freezing level likely rising just above summits.
Thursday 9 December
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Very low confidence, but likely an improving picture with showers easing and freezing level rising, perhaps above summit level. Chance of further rain spreading east.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
The Peak District is home to a wide variety of magnificent hills, moors, outcrops and gritstone edges.
The National Park itself covers an area of 555 square miles with a high point on Kinder Scout of 636 metres. Despite its name, the landscape generally lacks sharp peaks, being characterised by rounded hills and gritstone escarpments.
Despite what its name may suggest, the Peak District is similar in geography to the more gentle Yorkshire Dales. Its highest point is Kinder Scout, although Bleaklow Head (610 metres) and Black Hill (582 metres) offer great alternatives while losing little in terms of total elevation. Black Hill is a point of interest with its covering of peat and lack of vegetation giving the peak its name. However, conservation work has since transformed the peak so that large areas of the bare peat are now covered with native shrubs.
While the Peak District may lack sharp elevations, the whole area covers huge upland stretches, meaning that much of the National Park is on land that's more than 300 metres above sea level.