Mountain weather
Peak District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for the changeable and conditions. Medium in detail from Friday.
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.
Heavy persistent rain
Heavy and persistent rain can lead to drenched clothing and footwear with waterproofs often becoming soaked through, especially if accompanied by strong winds. This can lead to significant loss of body heat and an increased likelihood of hypothermia. Terrain may turn increasingly boggy underfoot while streams can flood and become impassable. There may also be a risk of flooding in valleys or glens. If there is snow cover, a heightened avalanche hazard is possible and avalanche reports should be consulted where available.
Gales
Gale force winds (gusts over 50mph) make walking difficult and strenuous with a potential to be blown over by gusts. There is often a marked increase in winds through cols or on exposed ridges and summits. Distances can take longer to cover and compass bearings become harder to follow accurately.
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
Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times. Strengthening winds.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
20% | 30% | 60% | 60% | 60% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
W
28
|
SW
25
|
SW
22
|
SW
28
|
SW
32
|
SW
34
|
| 300m |
W
17
|
SW
17
|
SW
16
|
S
21
|
SW
23
|
SW
24
|
| Valley |
W
11
|
SW
10
|
SW
10
|
S
11
|
SW
13
|
SW
14
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 35 | 30 | 28 | 36 | 42 | 44 |
| 300m | 23 | 23 | 22 | 31 | 35 | 37 |
| Valley | 25 | 22 | 20 | 28 | 31 | 33 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-1°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
4°
|
5°
|
| 300m |
2°
|
1°
|
3°
|
4°
|
6°
|
7°
|
| Valley |
2°
|
2°
|
3°
|
4°
|
6°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
400m
|
400m
|
600m
|
1,100m
|
1,300m
|
2,100m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-9°
|
-9°
|
-7°
|
-5°
|
-3°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
-4°
|
-4°
|
-3°
|
-1°
|
1°
|
1°
|
| Valley |
-2°
|
-2°
|
0°
|
1°
|
2°
|
3°
|
Additional weather information
Weather
Cloud thickening and lowering during the morning with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, perhaps briefly falling as sleet above 600m, before freezing levels rise. Rain and drizzle becoming more persistent and heavy at all levels during the afternoon and evening as milder air pushes in.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
80% overnight and early morning, becoming 40% by midday with occasional or extensive cloud around 600m. Becoming Nil by dusk, with cloud at 600m extending to all hills, and down to 400m during rain, especially in the west.
Visibility
Views of distant hills becoming increasingly hazy through the morning, and poor by the afternoon, especially during any rain or drizzle. Very poor visibility likely across all tops as cloud thickens.
Meteorologist's view
Conditions becoming very wet and poor across all hills by the afternoon, with heavy and persistent rain and very limited visibility. Winds also increasing to be strong, with isolated gales possible over the highest tops.
Recent rainfall
Location: Cat & Fiddle (Midway between Buxton and Macclesfield)
Altitude: 511m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 6mm | 10mm | 27mm |
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
Heavy rain during the morning could potentially fall as snow above 600m as freezing levels fall in the hours before midday. Temporary blizzard conditions possible, with frozen ground also likely on the tops. Rain then clearing to sunny spells and isolated showers. These falling as snow above 400m, with sleet and hail to lower levels.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
Nil to 20% overnight and early morning, extensive cloud base 600m or less. Becoming 80% in the afternoon, with only occasional cloud above 800m during heavy showers.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwesterly 35mph gusting 50mph becoming westerly 30-35mph gusting 40-45mph as rain clears.
Temperature
- At 600m Plus 5 Celsius falling to Zero Celsius by midday, then Minus 2 Celsius by dusk.
- Valley Plus 6 Celsius, falling to Plus 2 Celsius by midday, then rising to Plus 6 Celsius
- Freezing level Above the summits, falling to 600m by midday, then 500m by dusk.
Visibility
Moderate or poor in rain. Otherwise mostly good or very good, but poor or very poor in wintry showers.
Mountain weather information
Friday 21 February
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Dry start, but freezing levels gradually rising above the tops as cloud, rain and strong winds move in from the southwest. Severe gale force winds possible by the afternoon, with summits likely obscured.
Saturday 22 February
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Winds only gradually easing, with freezing levels also falling but remaining just above the highest summits. Staying rather cloudy, with further outbreaks of light rain, perhaps sleet on highest summits.
Sunday 23 February
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Another cloudy, and often wet day, with further outbreaks of rain and strong winds, likely severe gales. Freezing levels staying above the summits.
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.