Mountain weather
Yorkshire Dales Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for wet and windy conditions on Wednesday, then a return to colder and brighter conditions from Thursday. Medium in cloud and snow details from Thursday.
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.
Heavy snow
Heavy snow can lead to rapid changes in underfoot conditions and paths may become treacherous or hidden. It also brings very poor visibility and often makes navigation much more challenging. When deep snow accumulates progress is often time consuming and strenuous, significantly affecting the distance one can travel on foot. Deep drifts can develop if snow is combined with strong winds. A heightened avalanche risk 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
Very wet and windy with extensive low cloud. Sleet and snow on the tops later.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
60% | 70% | 90% | 90% | 80% | 80% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
SW
20
|
SW
16
|
SW
16
|
SW
10
|
NW
9
|
W
8
|
| 300m |
SW
11
|
SW
9
|
SW
10
|
SW
5
|
NW
7
|
W
6
|
| Valley |
SW
7
|
SW
5
|
SW
4
|
NW
4
|
NW
8
|
W
6
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 27 | 22 | 23 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
| 300m | 25 | 19 | 21 | 12 | 14 | 12 |
| Valley | 20 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 12 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
5°
|
3°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
7°
|
5°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
8°
|
8°
|
7°
|
6°
|
5°
|
3°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,600m
|
1,600m
|
1,600m
|
1,400m
|
1,000m
|
600m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
1°
|
2°
|
1°
|
2°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
4°
|
5°
|
4°
|
5°
|
3°
|
0°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
6°
|
6°
|
5°
|
2°
|
1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Timings of the winds changing from the SW into the W and easing could be later than shown in table.
Weather
Cloudy and overcast with outbreaks of heavy and persistent rain. It will steadily turn to sleet and snow over the highest tops in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
Nil to 20% with extensive cloud throughout the day.
Visibility
Persistent cloud cover generally 400-600m throughout the day, with some very limited breaks to the lee of the higher peaks. Mainly moderate, but poor at times in the heavy and occasionally persistent rain. Potentially poor in the sleet or snow later in the evening.
Recent rainfall
Location: Malham
Altitude: 375m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 47.4mm | 58.2mm | 60.2mm |
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
Bright with long clear spells. Some wintry showers, snow mainly above 300m.
Chance of cloud-free mountain/hill tops at 600m
80%, rapidly improving conditions from the west, but some scattered showers may affect mainly western hills.
Maximum wind speed expected
West or Northwest 20 to 30mph gusting 40mph with a severe wind chill.
Temperature
- At 600m Minus 1 Celsius
- Valley Zero to Plus 4 Celsius
- Freezing level 400 to 600m.
Visibility
Patches possible on western upslopes to around 500m, with clearer skies in the east where bases will generally be above the hills. Visibility becoming good or very good, but occasionally moderate in any showers or rain, perhaps briefly poor in snow.
Mountain weather information
Friday 22 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright or clear spells and scattered snow showers. Fresh westerly winds over the tops with a significant wind chill. Freezing at most level by the end of the day.
Saturday 23 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright or clear spells. Scattered or isolated snow showers. Moderate west or northwest winds over the tops. Freezing at all levels.
Sunday 24 January
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Bright or clear spells. Scattered or isolated snow showers. Light west or northwest winds over the tops. Freezing at all levels.
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.