Mountain weather
Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for a rather unsettled theme and for spells of rain, but lower confidence for timings
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Dry start, but rain will soon spread from the west. Some heavy rain at times, but clearing to bright spells and a few showers in the afternoon.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
10% | 60% | 80% | 20% | 30% | 30% |
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
|
S
17
|
SW
18
|
W
18
|
SW
13
|
S
13
|
| 300m |
S
5
|
S
9
|
SW
12
|
W
10
|
SW
6
|
S
5
|
| Valley |
S
6
|
S
10
|
SW
9
|
W
10
|
SW
4
|
S
6
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 29 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 19 |
| 300m | 17 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 17 | 13 |
| Valley | 19 | 25 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 17 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
5°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
6°
|
7°
|
8°
|
6°
|
6°
|
| Valley |
7°
|
7°
|
9°
|
10°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,300m
|
1,600m
|
1,300m
|
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,200m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-2°
|
-1°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
0°
|
| 300m |
3°
|
3°
|
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
4°
|
| Valley |
5°
|
5°
|
7°
|
7°
|
6°
|
6°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
A reasonably mild day with mostly light winds, but damp and murky for a time with rain and breezier over the tops.
Weather
Dry with clear spells overnight. Then a dry and quite bright start to the day but cloud will soon thicken to bring outbreaks of rain from the west. Rain will become heavy at times before clearing and becoming brighter in the afternoon with sunny spells and the odd shower following. Clear spells and a few showers in evening.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
80% falling to 20% in the morning with cloud falling down to 450m. Becoming 70% in afternoon with cloud lifting and breaking, leaving occasional broken cloud down to 600m
Visibility
Generally good beneath cloud, but becoming poor in rain and some reductions in showers.
Recent rainfall
Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 8.2mm | 27.6mm | 39.2mm |
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 mostly dry, bright but rather cloudy start and cloud will thicken and lower through the morning to bring outbreaks of rain. This rain will become heavy and prolonged in the early afternoon with difficult conditions developing as winds also increase. Rain clearing late afternoon, but mostly cloudy with occasional showers in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
Around 70% at first and in evening, with cloud occasionally down to 600m, but chance 20% or less by the end of the morning with persistent cloud down to 400 or 500m.
Maximum wind speed expected
Southwest 30 gust 40mph increasing 40mph in morning with gusts 55mph over the tops. Decreasing 25-30 gust 40mph in evening as winds become a little more westerly.
Temperature
- At 600m Plus 4 C rising to plus 8 C
- Valley Plus 6 C rising to plus 12 C
- Freezing level Above the tops
Visibility
Mainly good at first and out of showers later, but often poor in rain and very poor at height with cloud lowering onto the slopes
Mountain weather information
Sunday 25 October
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright or sunny spells, with blustery showers, some heavy with risk of hail and thunder. Rather windy with strong southwest winds turning westerly later.
Monday 26 October
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Rather cloudy with scattered showers, but a good deal drier than previous days with somewhat lighter westerly winds.
Tuesday 27 October
Sunrise:
Sunset:
A cloudy, rather wet and windy morning. Still cloudy in afternoon but rain will become light and patchy before clearing to a few showers towards evening. Strong to gale force southwest winds turning more westerly and easing through the afternoon.
Updated at:
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.