Mountain weather
Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for severe conditions in the hills on Tuesday then staying generally unsettled for the rest of the period. Rain or snow details become more uncertain from Thursday.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
Storm force winds
Storm force winds (gusts over 70mph) make walking very strenuous with any mobility virtually impossible over exposed ground. Where these conditions occur there is a high risk of being blown over and even standing may be impossible at times with a risk of being blown off one’s feet. Basic tasks such as using a map, eating, putting on extra clothing or communication become extremely difficult away from any shelter.
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.
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.
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
Extremely windy with spells of heavy rain. Hazardous conditions.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
30% | 80% | 70% | 90% | 80% | 40% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
S
29
|
S
33
|
S
41
|
SW
38
|
W
33
|
W
26
|
| 300m |
S
12
|
S
17
|
S
24
|
SW
22
|
W
20
|
W
17
|
| Valley |
S
11
|
S
15
|
S
19
|
SW
20
|
W
16
|
W
15
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 38 | 44 | 57 | 53 | 47 | 39 |
| 300m | 30 | 40 | 52 | 49 | 43 | 36 |
| Valley | 31 | 39 | 48 | 48 | 38 | 35 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
1°
|
3°
|
5°
|
8°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
4°
|
7°
|
10°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
5°
|
7°
|
9°
|
11°
|
6°
|
5°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,500m
|
2,400m
|
2,300m
|
2,100m
|
1,000m
|
700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-6°
|
-5°
|
-2°
|
2°
|
-5°
|
-5°
|
| 300m |
-1°
|
0°
|
2°
|
6°
|
0°
|
-1°
|
| Valley |
2°
|
3°
|
5°
|
7°
|
2°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Weather
An extremely windy day with severe gale or storm force winds at most elevations. A cloudy start otherwise, with rain soon arriving from the west, often heavy and accompanied by squally winds. The rain will clear east early evening, followed by a few showers turning increasingly wintry over the highest tops.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
10-30% early morning but chance soon becoming almost nil. Persistent cloud developing above 400m. Improving in evening as cloud lift and breaks.
Visibility
Poor through much of the day, with neighbouring hills appearing faint in low cloud and heavy rain. Air clarity improving in evening as rain clears east.
Meteorologist's view
Severe gales or storm force winds on the tops and moors with mobility extremely difficult on exposed high ground. Drenching conditions to be out in, especially afternoon.
Recent rainfall
Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 0mm | 15.6mm | 24.8mm |
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
A rather dry morning, with sunshine in most valleys but some patches of low cloud covering the highest summits. Some showers approaching from the west early afternoon, heavy for a time, with snow above 500m. Occasionally strong and gusty west or southwesterly winds with severe wind chill on the tops.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
70%, reducing to 30% for a few hours in afternoon. Patchy summit cloud becoming more widespread in afternoon for a few hours above 400m.
Maximum wind speed expected
West or southwest with mean speed 20-30mph with gusts 30-40mph. Sudden gusts as showers pass through. Winds easing in the evening.
Temperature
- At 600m Plus 1 Celsius.
- Valley Zero becoming plus 4 or 5 Celsius.
- Freezing level 700m, falling to 400m after dark.
Visibility
Very good for most of the day but becoming poor at times in afternoon with low cloud and snow showers on the tops.
Mountain weather information
Thursday 12 December
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with spells of rain, falling as snow above about 500m in the morning but turning to rain at all levels in the afternoon. Strong southerly winds turning westerly and easing in the afternoon.
Friday 13 December
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A cloudy start with outbreaks of rain and summit sleet but brightening up with scattered showers, wintry on the tops. Cold conditions and strong northwesterly winds.
Saturday 14 December
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cold conditions expected with bright spells and rain, sleet or snow showers. Strong westerly winds on the tops with severe wind chill.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
The Yorkshire Dales National Park covers an area of 683 square miles and is a collection of rivers, valleys and hills.
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.