Mountain weather
Peak District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for general developments. Medium for cloud details.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mountain weather forecast
Rain then bright spells and wintry showers. Very windy with severe wind chill.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
70% | 70% | 40% | 40% | 60% | 60% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
SW
32
|
W
40
|
W
37
|
W
38
|
W
32
|
W
34
|
| 300m |
SW
25
|
SW
29
|
W
25
|
W
26
|
W
26
|
W
26
|
| Valley |
SW
13
|
SW
16
|
W
16
|
W
17
|
W
17
|
W
17
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 40 | 50 | 49 | 50 | 43 | 47 |
| 300m | 33 | 38 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 37 |
| Valley | 30 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 36 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
4°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
2°
|
1°
|
| 300m |
6°
|
8°
|
8°
|
6°
|
5°
|
3°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
8°
|
9°
|
7°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,300m
|
1,700m
|
1,200m
|
1,000m
|
900m
|
700m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-3°
|
-1°
|
-1°
|
-4°
|
-5°
|
-7°
|
| 300m |
0°
|
2°
|
4°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
-3°
|
| Valley |
2°
|
4°
|
5°
|
3°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Note the wind speeds and wind chill at height. Gusts of around 55mph expected over the peaks.
Weather
Low cloud and outbreaks of rain and drizzle during Saturday morning. Cloud beginning to lift and break from around mid-morning. Some bright or sunny spells and heavy blustery showers arriving through the afternoon, these turning wintry over the peaks in the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
30% overnight and early morning, rising to 80% during the day, but lowering significantly as the showers pass through.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud, base 300 to 600m early Saturday morning, the cloud then lifting and breaking near or above the summits by midday. However, falling significantly, with bases around 400m as the heavy, blustery showers push through later. Moderate to very poor visibility early morning becoming very good or excellent as the cloud lifts and breaks, but temporary very poor with blizzard conditions over the tops later as the heavy snow showers push through.
Recent rainfall
Location: Cat & Fiddle (Midway between Buxton and Macclesfield)
Altitude: 511m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5mm | 7.6mm | 32.4mm |
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
Heavy snow showers overnight and during Sunday morning with some drifting and whiteout conditions. The snow showers becoming more scattered and less heavy through the afternoon and evening. Severe gale or storm force summit winds with severe wind chill, buffeting and the risk of being blown over.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
50% becoming 90% by dusk.
Maximum wind speed expected
West or Northwest 40mph gusting around 60mph.
Temperature
- At 600m Minus 1 to Minus 2 degrees Celsius.
- Valley Plus 1 rising to Plus 5 degrees Celsius.
- Freezing level All levels rising to 600m around the middle of the day.
Low cloud and visibility
Extensive cloud around the summits overnight and during the morning, bases falling to around 300m or less in heavy snow showers. Cloud becoming well scattered or clear at times during the afternoon and evening. Visibility very poor in snow with whiteout conditions over the peaks, but becoming mostly very good or excellent by the afternoon.
Mountain weather information
Mon 23 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Clear and cold at first. Rain and snow developing, rain at all levels by evening with a thaw setting in. Moderate to fresh northwest, becoming southwest winds at height. Freezing most levels at first, rising above the summits by evening.
Tue 24 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Cloudy with occasional drizzle. Fresh to strong westerly winds at height. Mild.
Wed 25 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mostly cloudy. Patchy drizzle. Fresh to strong southwesterly winds at height. Mild.
Updated at:
Summit specific forecast
Mountain summit forecast map
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Key
Mountain summits
Other points of interest
Cluster of multiple stations
The Peak District is home to a wide variety of magnificent hills, moors, outcrops and gritstone edges.