Mountain weather
Peak District Mountain weather forecast table
Confidence
High for the prevailing unsettled theme, but lower for detail of windier spells in particular.
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.
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.
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.
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
Fine at first wet and windy through lunchtime. Brighter but more showery later, with a small chance of thunder as winds increase.
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weather (at 600m) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chance of precipitation (at 600m) |
10% | 10% | 90% | 30% | 40% | 80% |
Wind direction and speed (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
W
23
|
S
14
|
SE
22
|
SW
26
|
SW
26
|
SW
28
|
| 300m |
SW
16
|
S
9
|
SE
17
|
SW
19
|
SW
19
|
SW
21
|
| Valley |
W
9
|
SE
4
|
SE
10
|
SW
11
|
SW
9
|
SW
12
|
Wind gust (mph)
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m | 29 | 17 | 28 | 35 | 36 | 37 |
| 300m | 24 | 15 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 31 |
| Valley | 22 | 13 | 24 | 27 | 24 | 28 |
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
4°
|
4°
|
3°
|
6°
|
5°
|
4°
|
| 300m |
5°
|
6°
|
6°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Valley |
6°
|
5°
|
6°
|
8°
|
7°
|
7°
|
| Freezing Level |
1,100m
|
1,100m
|
1,600m
|
1,500m
|
1,300m
|
1,400m
|
Altitude above mean sea level
| 06:00 | 09:00 | 12:00 | 15:00 | 18:00 | 21:00 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 600m |
-2°
|
0°
|
-2°
|
1°
|
-1°
|
-2°
|
| 300m |
1°
|
3°
|
1°
|
4°
|
3°
|
2°
|
| Valley |
3°
|
4°
|
3°
|
6°
|
4°
|
4°
|
Additional weather information
Meteorologist's view
Activities best conducted early on, ahead of successive wet periods with poor visibility and strong winds.
Weather
Brightest first thing, with some brief sunny spells possible before invading cloud brings a swathe of rain from the west later in the morning. This will be heavy through lunchtime, eventually clearing east to perhaps allow some further late sunny spells, although becoming windy by this time, with blustery heavy showers culminating in more pervasive heavy rain and perhaps summit gales into the evening.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
60% early morning, otherwise 20%
Low cloud and visibility
Good, becoming moderate or poor in rain, very poor within cloud with bases generally extensive from 500m from mid-morning.
Recent rainfall
Location: Cat & Fiddle (Midway between Buxton and Macclesfield)
Altitude: 511m
| Last 24 hours | Last 48 hours | Last 72 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 33.6mm | 40.8mm | 53.4mm |
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
Brighter spells and only a few light showers by day, but chance of some rain for a time early morning also moving into the evening, with some heavier outbreaks developing into the night.
Chance of cloud-free hill tops
85% by day
Maximum wind speed expected
West 20mph easing variable 15mph or less from late morning
Temperature
- At 600m Plus 3 Celsius
- Valley Zero Celsius increasing 10 Celsius for the afternoon
- Freezing level Above summits
Low cloud and visibility
Generally good, becoming moderate or poor in rain or showers, very poor within cloud infrequently lowering to 600m.
Mountain weather information
Tue 12 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Showers or longer periods of rain, heavy at times. Light summit. Freezing level above peaks.
Wed 13 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Mainly dry with bright spells, but chance of rain early and late in the day. Fresh northerly summit winds easing. Freezing level 700m.
Thu 14 Dec
Sunrise:
Sunset:
Early rain clearing to sunshine and showers. Fresh west to southwest summit winds.
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.
The National Park itself covers an area of 555 square miles with a high point on Kinder Scout of 636 metres. Despite its name, the landscape generally lacks sharp peaks, being characterised by rounded hills and gritstone escarpments.
Despite what its name may suggest, the Peak District is similar in geography to the more gentle Yorkshire Dales. Its highest point is Kinder Scout, although Bleaklow Head (610 metres) and Black Hill (582 metres) offer great alternatives while losing little in terms of total elevation. Black Hill is a point of interest with its covering of peat and lack of vegetation giving the peak its name. However, conservation work has since transformed the peak so that large areas of the bare peat are now covered with native shrubs.
While the Peak District may lack sharp elevations, the whole area covers huge upland stretches, meaning that much of the National Park is on land that's more than 300 metres above sea level.