Mountain weather
Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for mostly unsettled spell of weather with showers, but some uncertainty regarding frequency of showers.
Mountain weather hazards
Hazards apply at or above 300m, reflecting the more severe conditions which can occur at altitude.
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.
Thunderstorms
Lightning is a significant mountain hazard which can result in serious injury or death. Mountain terrain often leaves one highly exposed to lightning strikes. Hail may give unpleasant conditions with torrential rain and localised flash flooding also possible, mainly in Summer months.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
An often cloudy day with scattered heavy showers. Risk of thunder. Breezy with gales likely across summits.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
40% | 40% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 10% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
SW
19
|
SW
21
|
SW
26
|
SW
28
|
SW
24
|
SW
21
|
| 300m |
SW
9
|
SW
12
|
SW
15
|
SW
17
|
SW
14
|
SW
12
|
| Valley |
SW
7
|
SW
12
|
SW
14
|
SW
15
|
SW
12
|
SW
9
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 24 | 28 | 34 | 37 | 33 | 30 |
| 300m | 22 | 24 | 33 | 35 | 30 | 26 |
| Valley | 21 | 27 | 32 | 34 | 27 | 24 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
9°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
10°
|
| 300m |
11°
|
13°
|
13°
|
14°
|
13°
|
12°
|
| Valley |
13°
|
14°
|
14°
|
15°
|
15°
|
14°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,700m
|
1,900m
|
2,100m
|
2,100m
|
2,000m
|
2,000m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
7°
|
| 300m |
9°
|
11°
|
11°
|
11°
|
10°
|
10°
|
| Valley |
11°
|
12°
|
12°
|
12°
|
13°
|
12°
|
Additional weather information
Weather
A largely cloudy start to the day with some cloud covering summits around dawn. This soon lifting and breaking with a rather windy day following with a few bright or sunny spells and an increasing chance of showers, these probably turning heavy at times, with a medium likelihood of lightning. Winds reaching gale strength across summits, and here it will feel chilly, so appropriate clothing is recommended.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
60% with cloud bases around 350m at first around dawn becoming 90% or more during the morning.
Visibility
Good or very good for much of the day, quickly becoming moderate in heavier showers.
Meteorologist's view
Winds across summits and exposed ridges may temporarily be 10-15mph strong near any heavy showers so be sure to take extra layers if out for any length of time.
Recent rainfall
Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 2.6mm | 17.8mm | 20.6mm |
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 similar day to Sunday with a chance of some patches of lower cloud in the early hours of Monday morning around 400m. This lifting and breaking during the morning with a mostly bright day following with showers. The showers could again be heavy with a low likelihood of lightning.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
70% with patchy cloud bases probably around 400m at first around dawn, becoming 90% or more by the end of the morning.
Maximum wind speed expected
Westerly or southwesterly with gusts reaching 35-40mph across summits.
Temperature
- At 600m Plus 5 Celsius becoming plus 10 Celsius for the afternoon.
- Valley Plus 8 Celsius becoming plus 17 Celsius for the afternoon.
- Freezing level Well above the summits.
Visibility
Good or very good, becoming moderate or poor at times near showers.
Mountain weather information
Tuesday 20 August
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Winds moderating noticeably on Monday night, with sunny spells and scattered showers for Tuesday, some possibly still heavy for the afternoon. A longer spells of rain is possible later.
Wednesday 21 August
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Perhaps a cloudier day with rain at first then more in the way of showers for Wednesday, some heavy with a low likelihood of lightning. Remaining rather cool with southwesterly winds, but probably feeling warmer than of late at lower elevations.
Thursday 22 August
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Currently the weather looks similar with clear or sunny spells and scattered showers with westerly or southwesterly winds. Chance of longer spells of rain.
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.