A drystone wall leading up a hill in the Yorkshire Dales.
Mountain weather

Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table

Confidence

High for overall settled conditions with prolonged sunshine by day. Moderate for exact timing of cloud clearance each morning. Low confidence in the timing and distribution of showers over the weekend.

Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mountain hazards

Mountain weather hazards

Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.

hazard Strong Sunlight
Harmful UV levels from sunlight increase with altitude giving a greater risk of sunburn and eye damage, even on some overcast days. On breezy days, the cooling effect of wind on exposed skin may disguise any feeling of sunburn until it is too late. If there is snow cover, glare increases the effect of UV rays especially on the eyes. It is advisable to wear sun block, protective clothing such as a long-sleeved top and hat and have good quality eye protection.

hazard 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

Early cloud largely clearing once again to widespread sunshine.

06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
Weather
(at 600m)
Cloudy Cloudy Sunny intervals Sunny day Cloudy Overcast
Chance of precipitation
(at 600m)
<05% <05% <05% 00% 00% <05%

Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m E
11
E
13
E
13
E
12
E
13
NE
12
300m E
8
E
10
E
11
E
10
E
11
NE
10
Valley E
5
E
9
E
9
E
8
E
10
E
10
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m 15 17 18 17 20 18
300m 13 15 17 16 19 20
Valley 9 15 15 14 17 20

Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
10°
12°
10°
300m
12°
15°
16°
14°
Valley
11°
14°
17°
18°
16°
11°
Freezing Level
2,100m
2,100m
2,000m
1,900m
1,900m
1,900m

Altitude above mean sea level
06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00
600m
300m
10°
13°
14°
12°
Valley
10°
12°
15°
16°
14°

Additional weather information

Meteorologist's view

High UV levels likely into the afternoon, with sun protection essential. Care should also be taken if heading out onto the hills early, with temperatures at height feeling chilly in the easterly winds, adequate layers recommended.

Weather

A cloudy start to the day but the cloud will soon thin and break, followed by periods of sunshine developing by late morning. Warm and dry with lots of very strong sunshine during the afternoon. Holding onto clear skies for the first part of the night, with some late evening sunshine but low cloud likely to return from the east later overnight.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

30% in the east of the park to start, but 60% in the west. Becoming 90% for all parts into the afternoon.

Low cloud and visibility

Generally good but mediocre or poor in cloud, with bases as low as 500-600m, covering tops in the east of the park around dawn. Visibility soon becoming very good all around, with good panoramic views, including at height.

Recent rainfall

Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
Last 24 hoursLast 48 hoursLast 72 hours
0mm1mm1mm
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.

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Mountain weather information

Weather

Staying generally dry, with again early cloud clearing and breaking from the west to give widespread sunshine into the afternoon, tempered by a fresh easterly breeze.

Chance of cloud-free hill tops

60% to start, becoming 95% for all into the afternoon.

Maximum wind speed expected

Easterly 15mph gusting 25mph.

Temperature

  • At 600m 4 deg C becoming 12 deg C.
  • Valley 7 deg C becoming 17 deg C.
  • Freezing level Above summits.

Low cloud and visibility

Cloud bases of around 600-700m once again covering some higher tops in the park to start. Cloud increasingly breaking through the morning to leave largely clear skies by the afternoon. Visibility generally good outside of any early cloud at height.

Mountain weather information

Fri 9 Jun

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Similar to previous days, with patchy overnight cloud soon clearing to leave another dry sunny day. Brisk easterly winds persisting.

Sat 10 Jun

Sunrise:
Sunset:

A dry, bright day likely but forecast confidence lowers as conditions turn more unsettled into the evening, with an increasing risk of some heavy and thundery showers. Becoming warmer with winds easing.

Sun 11 Jun

Sunrise:
Sunset:

Forecast confidence remains lower but a generally cloudier day likely with a risk of showers. Staying warm with light winds.

Updated at:

Summit specific forecast

Mountain summit forecast map

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The National Park lies within the county boundaries of historic Yorkshire with much of the landscape consisting of limestone country; lush green valleys known locally as 'dales' crested with white limestone cliffs known as 'scars'. Hidden beneath these hills and peaks is an underground world of caves and potholes with stalactites and stalagmites, cathedral sized chambers, underground rivers and waterfalls.

A gentler outlook awaits visitors in the Yorkshire Dales, compared to the much more imposing ranges of the Lake District. The tallest of the gentle rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales is Whernside, which reaches 736 metres. Known as the 'King of the Dales', Whernside may not be the tallest of mountains on offer in the UK, but still rewards those who make the journey with views that stretch for miles.

Walkers shouldn't be under the illusion that the Yorkshire Dales doesn't offer challenges for ardent mountain walkers. Instead, a 'Three Peaks Challenge', which takes in Whernside, Ingelborough and Pen-y-Ghent, sees walkers cover over 23 miles and almost 1,600 metres of ascent. The record for completing all three currently stands at around two and a half hours.