Mountain weather
Peak District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for cold, showery conditions continuing through into next week and then becoming milder during Tuesday, although timings of this uncertain at the moment.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Hill fog and occasional snow showers in the west. Dry and brighter elsewhere. Cold.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
30% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% | 00% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
W
9
|
W
7
|
W
11
|
W
13
|
W
13
|
W
13
|
| 300m |
SW
5
|
SW
5
|
NW
9
|
W
10
|
W
9
|
W
8
|
| Valley |
SW
3
|
SW
3
|
NW
7
|
W
7
|
W
5
|
W
4
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 11 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
| 300m | 7 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
| Valley | 5 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 11 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| Valley |
0°
|
0°
|
1°
|
1°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
| Freezing Level |
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
200m
|
100m
|
0m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-6°
|
-8°
|
-8°
|
-9°
|
-10°
|
| 300m |
-3°
|
-3°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-6°
|
| Valley |
-2°
|
-2°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
-4°
|
-4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Widespread valley frosts at first and again in evening, temperatures down to minus 3 or 4 Celsius.
Weather
Western areas mostly cloudy with hill fog and light snow showers, these easing this afternoon. Elsewhere dry with broken cloud, clear or sunny spells.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
Around 30% across western areas, elsewhere 80%.
Visibility
Areas of cloud above 400m across western areas, with more patchy cloud above 600m elsewhere. Away from cloud, very good or excellent with some good panoramic views possible, falling to just one or two kilometres at times with the snow.
Recent rainfall
Location: Cat & Fiddle (Midway between Buxton and Macclesfield)
Altitude: 511m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1.4mm | 3.2mm | 43.4mm |
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
One or two mainly light snow showers are possible overnight, these most likely across western and southern areas, but most places dry with long clear spells at first but then increasing cloud through the morning. Then dry and clear through the evening, with a widespread frost quickly developing with valley freezing fog.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
Overnight around 40% across western areas, elsewhere 90%. Becoming generally 90% through the day.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwesterly winds 15 mph or less, but temperatures still low enough for a significant chill effect.
Temperature
- At 600m Around minus 4 Celsius
- Valley Falling to minus 5 or 6 Celsius overnight then rising briefly to plus 1 Celsius around midday.
- Freezing level Below 300m.
Visibility
Periods of cloud expected below the summits across western areas overnight, with very little then during the day. Away from cloud, very good or excellent, falling to just a few kilometres in snow showers.
Mountain weather information
Monday 25 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Clear or sunny spells and isolated light snow showers, these mainly across western areas along with areas of hill fog. Moderate southwesterly winds. Freezing level 300m or less. Significant wind chill effect.
Tuesday 26 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry, bright start but becoming cloudy with outbreaks of snow arriving late afternoon and evening, these becoming heavy and producing significant accumulations. Freshening southeasterly winds. Freezing level around 300m.
Wednesday 27 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Overnight snow clearing then dry with widespread hill fog in the morning, perhaps some afternoon sunny spells before evening rain arrives. Freezing level lifting just above the summits, with a thaw setting in.
Updated at:
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.